Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025
Venue: Inspire Centre, Calderdale College
Competition: NBL Division One
Final Score: Bradford Dragons 74 – 89 Derby Trailblazers
Match Summary
The Bradford Dragons fell to the Derby Trailblazers in a hard-fought encounter, with the visitors securing an 89-74 victory. Despite a strong effort from key players, the Dragons were unable to overturn Derby’s dominance.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
- Q1: Derby started strong, outscoring Bradford 23-16.
- Q2: The teams played an even 21-21 quarter, with the Dragons unable to cut the deficit.
- Q3: A tightly contested period ended 20-20, as Bradford struggled to make a run.
- Q4: Derby pulled away with a 25-17 finish, sealing the win.
Key Stats
- Points in the Paint: Bradford 30 – 56 Derby
- Fast Break Points: Bradford 0 – 13 Derby
- Bench Points: Bradford 21 – 26 Derby
- Turnovers to Points: Bradford 18 – 11 Derby
- Biggest Lead: Bradford 1 (3-2), Derby 17 (63-80)
Top Performers – Bradford Dragons
- Justin Williams (17 pts, 6 ast, 4 reb)
- Micah Savery-Richards (17 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast)
- Jordan Whelan (12 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast)
Top Performers – Derby Trailblazers
- S Walker (23 pts, 17 reb, 5 ast)
- Malcolm Smith (18 pts, 7 reb)
- Jai Pathmarajah (14 pts, 3 reb, 5 ast)
Game Analysis
Bradford struggled with their shooting efficiency, converting only 38% of field goals compared to Derby’s 55.4%. The Dragons also shot just 25.7% from three-point range, a significant disadvantage against Derby’s 41.2% from beyond the arc.
Defensively, Derby controlled the boards, grabbing 50 total rebounds compared to Bradford’s 36, which led to second-chance opportunities that widened the gap.
Conclusion
Despite moments of promise, Bradford could not contain Derby’s inside game and transition play. The Dragons will need to regroup and find ways to improve their shooting efficiency and rebounding ahead of their next fixture.
