 | Having made their best ever start to a season, since reaching the top flight of the National Basketball League, the Bradford Dragons have now slipped to four straight defeats following a home double header weekend against Worthing Thunder (75-89) and Reading Rockets (89-95). Worthing arrived in the Dragons’ Den on Saturday evening, for the second time within the space of a week, hot on the tail of the last Sunday’s National Cup fourth round tie, in which they categorically despatched the Dragons out of the competition. This time, with league points on offer, the Dragons were determined to get a reversal on the previous fixture. |
It was the home side that opened the scoring with baskets from Jermayne Laing and birthday boy Rihards Šulcs, before Worthing had got out of the starting blocks. Bradford maintained the lead for the opening five minutes, but slowly and surely Thunder overturned the Dragons advantage. As the buzzer sounded, at the end of the first, the game was tightly balanced with Worthing ahead by just four points (18-22).
Disaster struck in the second quarter as the visitors found their swagger and increased their advantage to double figures within two minutes of the restart. Spectators could have been forgiven for believing that Worthing had an extra man on court, as they were first for almost every ball and always appeared to have a player available in open space.
Half time couldn’t come soon enough for the Dragons; however, by that time the damage had already been done. Worthing went into the break with a staggering twenty-point advantage (30-50) and it seemed that the Dragons were already dead and buried.
After the break, the home side started to show some true Yorkshire grit and quickly reduced the deficit to fifteen points (39-54). But Worthing kept them at a safe distance throughout the third quarter and Bradford failed to make further inroads into their lead. Going into the final ten-minute period Worthing were still well clear, at 50-65.
Disaster struck in the second quarter as the visitors found their swagger and increased their advantage to double figures within two minutes of the restart. Spectators could have been forgiven for believing that Worthing had an extra man on court, as they were first for almost every ball and always appeared to have a player available in open space.
Half time couldn’t come soon enough for the Dragons; however, by that time the damage had already been done. Worthing went into the break with a staggering twenty-point advantage (30-50) and it seemed that the Dragons were already dead and buried.
After the break, the home side started to show some true Yorkshire grit and quickly reduced the deficit to fifteen points (39-54). But Worthing kept them at a safe distance throughout the third quarter and Bradford failed to make further inroads into their lead. Going into the final ten-minute period Worthing were still well clear, at 50-65.
| But the Dragons had saved their best basketball until that final quarter, and although Worthing opened the period with a three-pointer, the home side gradually ate away at the Southerners’ lead. With just under five minutes on the clock a layup by Šulcs brought the difference down to just six points, forcing Worthing’s player/coach, Josh Goddard to call a timeout. On the restart a wayward pass from Jorge Ebanks gave Bradford possession sending Drexler Clark towards the basket, however as he launched for the layup he was caught by a Worthing defender. Neither referee spotted the foul and as Clark lay on the floor, clearly in pain, Thunder attacked the basket at the other end, and Šulcs was called for a foul on NBL player of the month for October, Zaire Taylor. |  |
Taylor stepped up to the free throw line as Clark left the court with a dislocated shoulder and facing up to four weeks on the side-line.
Still the Dragons would not give up and with just two and a half minutes remaining on the clock Laing sank a two to bring the Dragons to within three (72-75).
But that was as good as it was going to get for the hosts, as Worthing stepped up their game and finished the game out with a flurry of baskets, to take the win (75-89).
University of Bradford Player of the Game, Ricky Fetske top scored for Bradford with 24 points, whilst Rafi Saipe also contributed 12 points to the Dragons’ total and Šulcs achieved another double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
However, the game high score went to Taylor who amassed 29 points towards the winning total, supported by Alex Owumni who hit 25 points (plus 10 rebounds).
Still the Dragons would not give up and with just two and a half minutes remaining on the clock Laing sank a two to bring the Dragons to within three (72-75).
But that was as good as it was going to get for the hosts, as Worthing stepped up their game and finished the game out with a flurry of baskets, to take the win (75-89).
University of Bradford Player of the Game, Ricky Fetske top scored for Bradford with 24 points, whilst Rafi Saipe also contributed 12 points to the Dragons’ total and Šulcs achieved another double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
However, the game high score went to Taylor who amassed 29 points towards the winning total, supported by Alex Owumni who hit 25 points (plus 10 rebounds).
Reading Rockets, fresh from their win at Leicester Warriors on Saturday, were next into the Den, on Sunday afternoon. The Rockets are one of the most established sides in the NBL, however they have had a mixed start to the season under new head coach, Alan Keane.
The Rockets opened the scoring with a three pointer from Adrian O’Sullivan and the Dragons were forced to play catch up throughout the opening period. The visitors went into the opening recess seven points clear, at 21-28.
In the second period, the Dragons belatedly hit their groove and slowly ate away at the deficit. As the clock edged towards half time, it was the home side who held a two point advantage; however, AJ Carr landed a speculative three-point buzzer beater to send Reading back the locker room with the slimmest of leads (48-49).
The Rockets opened the scoring with a three pointer from Adrian O’Sullivan and the Dragons were forced to play catch up throughout the opening period. The visitors went into the opening recess seven points clear, at 21-28.
In the second period, the Dragons belatedly hit their groove and slowly ate away at the deficit. As the clock edged towards half time, it was the home side who held a two point advantage; however, AJ Carr landed a speculative three-point buzzer beater to send Reading back the locker room with the slimmest of leads (48-49).
  | The third quarter belonged to the Dragons, as they went about their business in efficient manner and as that penultimate period ended there looked to be only one winner, with the home side now leading by seven (77-70). But it all went wrong in the final period, despite Andreas Lycoudis hitting an early three pointer to increase the lead to ten. From there it was all Reading, whilst Bradford produced a succession of missed shots and turnovers. With less than four minutes gone in the period, the visitors had regained the lead and the Dragons could not find a way back. Reading took the win by six points (89-95) leaving Bradford to ponder what went wrong. Šulcs took the player of the game award, hitting 25 points, although this time he was three rebounds short of a double-double. Lycoudis also made an impressive 22 points and Saipe added a further 19 points to the Dragons total. Carr took the game high score, narrowly beating Šulcs with 26 points, whilst Trae Pemberton supported with 19 points for the winning team. |
Dragons coach, Chris Mellor reflected on the weekend, “I was pleased with our effort level in both games but we had to come back from a big hole against Worthing and a poor last period was our undoing against Reading.”
Next up for the Dragons is a road trip to Hemel Storm, next Saturday (7pm tip-off). Hemel have failed to make an impact so far this season, taking just one win from four and Bradford will hope to get back on the winning trail.
In the clubs only junior game of the weekend, the Under 16s boys took an 88-52 beating at Cheshire Wire.
Photographs © Alex Daniel Photography
Next up for the Dragons is a road trip to Hemel Storm, next Saturday (7pm tip-off). Hemel have failed to make an impact so far this season, taking just one win from four and Bradford will hope to get back on the winning trail.
In the clubs only junior game of the weekend, the Under 16s boys took an 88-52 beating at Cheshire Wire.
Photographs © Alex Daniel Photography
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