Bradford Dragons travelled to Leicester Warriors for a Saturday afternoon fixture in the National Basketball League first division. Despite Leicester putting in a strong first half performance, the Dragons fought back in the second half to record an important 88-77, to put valuable breathing space between themselves and the bottom two.

Although, Ricky Fetske won the tip-off for Bradford, it was the home side that put the first score on the board, before Rihards Šulcs (sponsored by Templewood Photography) levelled with a reverse layup. But, Leicester took hold of the opening minutes and opened up a seven-point lead, 9-2.

Rafi Saipe (sponsored by Made4Fighters) stepped up with a long distance three and then, when former Dragon, Carl Pearson, missed his layup at the other end, Šulcs took full advantage with another two off the back board (9-7).

Another two from Saipe, quickly followed by a layup from Fetske, saw Bradford level the game at eleven points each at the half way point of the opening quarter and then Fetske popped up again to give Bradford their first lead of the game, 11-13.

The game stayed close through the rest of the period, and as the buzzer sounded to signal the first scheduled break in play, the scores were even, at 22-22.
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The second period started in the similar fashion to the first, with Leicester drawing first blood and again opening up a seven-point lead. Šulcs got two back for Bradford and then, after Leicester had hit two of his own, Marcus Gooding (sponsored by Gooding Funeral Services) shimmied past Leicester’s Brown to put up his first points of the game.

A defeat on Saturday would send the Crusaders leapfrogging above Bradford and a repeat defeat at Leicester next weekend would place them in the bottom two.

Kent were themselves relegated from the top flight in 2016, but bounced back at the first attempt. However, despite some good performances this season, most notably beating former champions, Manchester Magic, the previous weekend, they have once again found themselves in the drop zone.
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It was a tentative start to the game, with both sides missing shots in the opening minute. But, it was the visiting Crusaders that opened the scoring, when Great Britain under 18 international, Caleb Fuller, sank a three pointer from the perimeter.

Bradford Dragons (W5-L8) fell to their second defeat of 2018, going down 80-69 at Loughborough Student Riders (9-2), on Saturday afternoon, leaving Coach Mellor disappointed with his team’s performance.

In only their second season in the top flight, Loughborough currently occupy second spot in the National Basketball League Division One, only two points behind leaders Team Solent Kestrels but with two games in hand. Meanwhile the Dragons have struggled to find consistent form this season and find themselves in danger of being dragged into a relegation battle.

Bradford’s big man, Ricky Fetske won the jump ball, sending team-mate Rihards Šulcs (sponsored by Templewood Photography) on the offence, only to be fouled in the act of shooting. Šulcs, however, missed both of the resultant free throws, allowing Max Richardson to open the scoring at the other end, for the hosts (2-0).        

Loughborough doubled their lead before Fetske put the first points on the board for Bradford. Jermaine Laing and Šulcs followed up with a couple of layups, and Rafi Saipe (sponsored by Made4Fighters) hit a single from the free throw line to Bradford three up (4-7).

Bradford Dragons resumed their National League division one campaign with a visit to Derby Trailblazers on Saturday evening, returning on the wrong end of a 90-89 score line.

The teams had previously met in the Dragons Den, in October, when Bradford had taken the spoils with a 91-83 victory in the National Cup, only to be then beaten by Loughborough Student Riders in the quarter finals.

Derby gained possession from the tip-off and scored on their first offence, Simeon Esprit sinking for two points. However, Bradford hit back immediately with a three from Eisley Swaine, but then a couple of two pointers from Matthew Ward-Hibbert put the hosts three points up.

Moments later, the game was tied, at six points apiece, but the Dragons couldn’t stop the Trailblazers from pulling ahead again, and whilst they managed to kep themselves in the game, the gap gradually widened. By the time the buzzer sounded for the end of the opening quarter, the gap was up to nine points, with Derby leading, with 25 points to Bradford’s 16.