Blog Archives

Bradford Dragons Club Award Ceremony 2016-2017

31/3/2017

Thank you to everyone who came to our 2016/17 Bradford Dragons club Awards Ceremony on Saturday night at Glyde House in Bradford. We hope that you all had a great evening and enjoyed celebrating the season with us. There are a number of people who made the night possible and a big thank you goes to each and every one of them.

Steve Valentine, Club Chairman said: “It was a fantastic evening which brought the club together - players, coaches, game officials and club officials. Dragons celebrated our successes of the past season and look forward to continuing the progress we have achieved. Dragons have a bright future and we’re really optimistic about next season.”

Head Coach Chris Mellor added: “It was a great night and it was good to see so many people there from the club along with the juniors and senior team.”

Dragons leave it late but sign off league season with a win!

28/3/2017

Bradford Dragons entertained London Lituanica in their final league fixture of the 2016/17 season. Despite leaving it until late in the final quarter, the Dragons finished the game as victors, with a 90-86 win over their guests.

The visitors have had an up and down season and it has been suggested that you never know which Lituanica team is going to turn up. Their troubles culminated in them forfeiting a game against Manchester Magic earlier in the campaign, which resulted in Manchester being awarded the game, with a statutory 20-0 scoreline, whilst the London side were also docked an additional two points.

On Saturday, the East Europeans (their entire team consists of Lituanian basketballers) travelled north with only six players and they were nearly down to five within three seconds of the opening quarter when Deividas Lygutas took a blow to the head in a challenge with Bradford’s Semi Eboigbe, forcing the visiting player to take a seat on the bench.

The Dragons’ own East European, Latvian Rihards Sulcs opened the scoring, with a two-point jump shot, however down the other end Lituanica fought hard and quickly pulled the scores back level. A turnover by the visitors saw Rafi Saipe play a defence splitting bounce pass through to Jermayne Laing, who was through on basket, however the normally reliable guard lost control of the ball, seeing it bounce off his foot and out of play.

Dragons split the weekend, but confirm place in the season finale.

22/3/2017

On the penultimate weekend of the National Basketball League Division One season. Bradford Dragons faced a double-header in the Dragons’ Den. Saturday’s opponents were Leicester Warriors, whom Bradford despatched back to the Midlands on the wrong end of a 92 - 86 score line, which also saw Bradford confirm their berth in the end of season playoffs. This game was followed, on Sunday afternoon, by the visit of Hemel Storm, who took revenge for the Dragons victory in Hemel, back in December, by taking the victory this time around, 80-87.

Saturday, saw the return of two former Dragons to the Dragons’ Den, Chris McGrew and Carl Pearson, both of whom now line up in Leicester colours. Meanwhile, Bradford were without their American power forward, Ricky Fetske, who was still suffering the after effects of a head injury the previous weekend.

In the opening quarter, it was clear that Bradford were missing the aerial presence of Fetske. However, in what turned out to be a rather scrappy affair, there was little to choose between the two teams when the buzzer sounded for the first scheduled break, although Leicester held a slight edge over their hosts, 20-23.

Dragons still can’t break the Magic Hoodoo!

15/3/2017

Bradford Dragons travelled over the Pennines, to the Amaechi Basketball Centre, on Saturday to face Manchester Magic. Manchester have had the better of the fixtures between the two teams, certainly over the past couple of seasons, and this one was no different, with Manchester record the victory, 80-64.

Lee Goldsbrough hit the first points of the game for Magic, but Bradford’s Ricky Fetske was as reliable as ever and quickly levelled the score. However, neither team managed to take a hold of the game during the opening quarter as they matched each other point for point. At the end of the period Bradford just had the edge, albeit by only a single point, with the scores at 18-19.

The second quarter followed a similar pattern, with both teams holding their own. But, with just over half of the quarter played, Fetske collided with Manchester’s Simon Anumba, causing the referees to call an officials timeout to allow Bradford’s big man to receive medical attention. The American left the court, suffering with concussion, and played no further part in the game.

Bradford Dragons Tame the Leopards!

8/3/2017

Bradford Dragons hosted Essex Leopards in the Dragons’ Den on Saturday evening and picked up another two points in their quest to secure a berth in the end of season playoffs. Bradford took the victory by 85 points to 78.

Only two seasons ago, the Leopards had taken the National Basketball League Division One title. However, this time around the Leopards are one of five teams currently embroiled in a relegation battle.

The first points of the game went to Essex, who hit a three pointer with the first shot of the game. Staight down the other end and Bradford’s American power forward, Ricky Fetske, immediately matched it with a three of his own. Essex immediately replied with a two-point jump shot, but again Fetske levelled instantly with a lay-up.