Dragons Roar Late to Overcome Hemel Storm in Home Thriller

Saturday 5 April 2025
Final Score: Bradford Dragons 96 – 91 Hemel Storm
Tip-off: 18:15

Bradford Dragons pulled off a dramatic late comeback to edge past Hemel Storm 96–91 in a pulsating encounter that went down to the wire. Trailing for more than 33 minutes and facing a 10-point deficit in the second quarter, the Dragons refused to back down. A dominant fourth quarter saw the home side outscore Hemel 32–23, flipping the momentum and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Standout Performances

Justin Williams delivered a sensational performance, pouring in 38 points (48.1 FG%) with 3 steals and 6 made free throws.

Rihards Sulcs, the Dragons captain, controlled the boards with a 15-rebound, 13-point double-double, while also adding 2 assists and drawing 4 fouls.

Jordan Whelan chipped in a vital 14 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.

Micah Savery-Richards and Andre Gayle combined for 16 points, helping to keep the Dragons within reach throughout the game.

Despite Hemel’s shooting efficiency and bench depth, it was Bradford’s relentless rebounding and second-chance efforts that turned the tide. The Dragons grabbed 21 offensive rebounds, leading to a massive 28 second-chance points—more than triple that of their opponents.

Game Flow

Hemel led for most of the game, but the Dragons surged in the fourth quarter. Bradford’s largest lead came late at 89–82, with the hosts refusing to let the game slip. With 4 lead changes and 3 ties, the intensity never dropped.

Coach’s Corner

Head Coach Chris Mellor praised his squad’s resilience: “We showed real heart tonight. The energy and rebounding effort in that final quarter made the difference. The fans played their part too—it was electric in here.”