Dragons slay Big Cats to make it four on the bounce.

Bradford Dragons, safe in the knowledge that their Division One status has been preserved for another season, celebrated with a fourth straight win, comfortably beating Essex Leopards (100-85) in the Dragons’ Den on Sunday afternoon.

The Dragons had the evening off on Saturday; however, defeats for three of the teams below them in the table effectively secured their place in Division One for another season. Nevertheless, both Bradford and Essex had a lot to play for, with the Dragons still harbouring thoughts of making the end of season playoffs, fuelled greatly by their recent resurgence in form, whereas a win for the Leopards would secure their spot in the top eight.

Lee Hodges opened the scoring with a layup for the Big Cats, adding a single from the line to give Essex an early three-point lead. Allie Fullah responded by slamming in a dunk for the Dragons, before another Hodges layup restored the gap..

The opening minutes followed a similar pattern, with the two sides trading baskets, however an unanswered seven-point streak by the visitors, mid-way through the opening period saw the Leopards go eight ahead (7-15).
​
The hosts reduced the gap to five, thanks to another dunk (plus one) from Fullah and a layup by Ricky Fetske, but Essex stretched it out again, this time to ten points. A three from Andreas Lycoudis followed by a single from Jermayne Laing restricted the damage to six (16-22) going into the first break

Rihards Šulcs reduced it to three at the start of the second, and despite a two by Essex’s Rory Winter, further points from Laing and another Lycoudis long range three, put Bradford ahead (26-24) inside the opening two minutes of the quarter.

With four minutes of the half remaining, a Rafi Saipe layup saw Bradford eight ahead, but a couple of threes from Findlay Wood and a two from American Asante Sandiford levelled things up (38-38). A succession of threes, another from Lycodis followed by a brace by Feske, ensured that the Dragons went back to the locker room in the lead, that being despite a final two-point basket from Sandiford (47-43).
​

Within thirty seconds of the restart the game was once again tied; however, the Dragons slowly started to take a grip of proceedings and by the half way point of the penultimate period their lead was back up to eight (60-52). The visitors managed to keep them at arm’s length, reducing the deficit to three, although by the end of the third quarter the home sides lead was once again up to eight (74-66).

Laing and Fetske extended the lead to fourteen, early in the final quarter and from that point onwards there was little doubt as to the final outcome. The Dragons closed the game out with a fifteen-point victory, 100-85, leaving the Leopards to wait at least another week to secure their playoff qualification.

The University of Bradford Player of the Game went to Fetske, who recorded impressive stats of 30 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. Lycoudis contributed 20 points, eighteen of which came from beyond the three-point arc. Sulcs also joined Fetske on a double-double, with 16 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists.

Head coach, Chris Mellor commented after the game, “It was an even first half, but I was really pleased with our toughness after the break and we played well at both ends. It keeps us in with a playoff shout with three left to play.”

The win places the Dragons ninth in the league table, just two points behind Leicester Warriors, who currently occupy the final play off berth. There are effectively five teams still in the running for the final two spots in the prestigious end of season competition, and although Essex and Leicester currently occupy those positions, they have both played one game more than the three teams below them. Should teams finish level on points, Bradford hold the head-to-head advantage over three of the other four teams, with only Nottingham Hoods, currently eleventh, holding that advantage over the Dragons.  

However, it is still a big ask of the Dragons, with two of their final three games being against top three opposition. On Saturday (7:30pm), they travel to current leaders Team Solent Kestrels, who the Dragons defeated in a remarkable fixture in the Dragons Den, back in December. The Kestrels will be keen to put the record straight on their home court.

The final weekend of the season, sees the Dragons in action twice, both in the Dragons’ Den. On Saturday (30th March, 6:15pm) they entertain Barking Abbey Crusaders, one of two teams still fighting to avoid relegation and the following afternoon (4:15pm) third place Loughborough Riders provide the opposition for the final regular fixture of the season.

Photographs © Alex Daniel Photography