​​Had it not have been for London Lituanica’s untimely exit from the league last September. meaning that only one side will face the drop this season, the Trailblazers would have still been in the midst of a relegation battle.

Bradford, meanwhile, had already secured their berth in the end of season playoff championship, but were playing for league position, in order to ensure the best possible fixture in the quarter finals.

​Manchester have been a real thorn in Bradford’s side over the last four seasons, with Bradford failing to record a single victory against them in all that time. However, despite Magic’s win in the Dragons’ Den last month, there were clear signs that the gulf between the two sides had been closed.

​However, it should still have been enough to see the game out as Worthing were forced to take one final speculative shot from well within their own half of the court. But just as Zaire Taylor released the ball, Šulcs charged in, making an ill=timed foul and sending the league’s best free throw shooter (average 93%) to the line for three shots.
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With the home crowd making as much noise as they could, in an attempt to throw Taylor off balance, he missed the first of his three attempts. He made no mistake with the second, levelling the score and leaving him one more shot to take the win. To the relief of the home crowd, the shot bounced out, off the rim, sending the game into a five-minute period of overtime.

However, on the back of their magnificent double victory, the previous weekend, the Dragons were high in confidence going into this fixture.

It was Bradford who put the first points on the scoreboard, when American Power-Forward, Ricky Fetske (sponsored by ALW Guitars), sank his lay-up for two.
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Northumbria hit straight back through Malcolm Smith, but Jermayne Laing quickly restored the Dragons’ advantage, with another lay-up.