Bradford Dragons
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Mission Statement
    • Club Honours
    • Dragons Personnel
    • Policies
    • Vacancies
  • News
    • News
    • Dragons in the News
  • Senior Men
    • Dragons 1 Fixtures 2021
    • League Standings
    • Roster 2021
    • Dragons Gallery 2021
    • Match Days Programmes 2021
  • Academy
    • Academy Information
    • Academy Fixtures 2021
    • Academy Roster 2021
    • Academy Gallery
  • Juniors
    • Under 18s >
      • Under 18s Information
      • Under 18 Fixtures
      • Under 18s League Table
    • Under 16s >
      • Under 16s Information
      • Under 16 Fixtures
      • Under 16s League Table
    • Under 14s >
      • Under 14s Information
      • Under 14 Fixtures
      • Under 14s League Table
    • Under 12s/Beginners
  • Dragons 3
    • Dragons 3 Fixtures 2021
    • Information
  • Schools
    • Information
    • Sponsored Events
  • Shop
  • Tickets
  • Support Us
  • Contact

Dragons end regular season campaign with a defeat

20/4/2021

 
by Tom Lamming (Student Press Officer)
Picture
Bradford Dragons dropped to an agonising 78-75 defeat against the 12-6 Team Newcastle University in NBL Division One on Sunday afternoon. 

A last-second three from Brandon Federici sealed a last gasp victory for the visitors, who scored eight straight points to end the game. 

The Dragons finish a difficult regular season in 11th position with a 7-12 record as all attention turns to the start of the playoffs next weekend. 

Coming into the third matchup of the season, Dragons were looking to sweep the season series having won the previous two games against Team Newcastle University.
​The visitors opened up a low-scoring opening quarter on a 7-2 run as Emmanuel Kabengele and Newcastle’s leading scorer Ronald Blain combined to score seven early points. 

Dragons responded with a three from Tyme Regent-Bascombe and a layup from Jermayne Laing to tie the game. 

Blain and Kabengele continued to frustrate Dragons as they combined to score seven of the next nine Newcastle points, extending their team’s lead to 16-9. 

Closing the quarter strongly, the hosts’ scored seven straight points to end the opening period tied at 16-16. 


Picture
The second period followed an equally tight pattern as neither team was able to create separation. 

The visitor’s duo of Blain and Kabengele combined for eight quick points as Team Newcastle re-established a five-point lead (24-19) in the opening minutes of the period. 

Off the bench, sharpshooter Dave Walsh scored the Dragons first eight points of the quarter as the game began to go back and forth. 

Neither team managed to string together a meaningful run as both teams cancelled each other out in a well contested second quarter. 

At halftime, the game was all tied up at 40-40. 

Heading into the penultimate quarter of action, the game was poised for a team to blow the game wide open, and unfortunately for the Dragons faithful, it was the visitors who rose to the fore. 

Team Newcastle broke out to a 17-5 start, knocking down four threes on the way to a 57-45 lead with just under four minutes to play in the quarter. 

In a pivotal stretch, the Dragons had to respond to stay in the game, and on cue, the hosts rattled off eight straight points to cut the lead to 57-54. 

With the regular season winding down, the final quarter of the league season proved to be a cracker. 

In a fourth quarter of runs, the visitors struck first, opening up a 64-58 lead in the first two minutes of action. 

But the Dragons came roaring back with an 8-2 run that tied the game at 66-66. 

For the next couple of minutes, both teams traded buckets, but with 3:07 left on the clock, the visitors held a narrow 70-69 lead. 

Then the Dragons climbed into the ascendency after stringing together back-to-back three-point plays. 

First up was Lycoudis with a three, before Uche Umewke converted a tough and-one layup to hand Dragons a 75-70 lead, with just over two minutes of the regular season remaining. 

With the hosts in a dominant position, Federici took the game by the scruff of the neck and single-handedly dragged his Newcastle team back to level terms. 

Knocking in a three before nailing a mid-range jumper on the next offensive possession, Federici then went one step further in the final seconds. 

However, the Dragons had a chance to claim victory first. Out of a timeout with just 11 seconds left on the game clock, Coach Mellor’s team generated a good look at the rim, but it didn’t fall. 

Back came the visitors, with the ever-dangerous Ronald Blain bringing the ball up the court. The American drove into the paint before shovelling the ball out to Federici, who swished home a game-winning three in the right corner. 

With less than a second on the clock, Dragons had to launch a full-court heave, but it wasn’t to be, and the hosts end the regular season with a narrow defeat. 

The Final Score, Bradford Dragons 75-78 Team Newcastle University. Dragons finish the NBL Division One Regular Season with a 7-12 record. 

The Official Bradford Dragons Calderdale College Player of the Game went to Rihards Šulcs, who scored 12 points, adding 16 rebounds and 4 assists. 

Four Dragons scored in double figures, with Andreas Lycoudis leading the scoring with 17 points on his return to the team. 

Ronald Blain and Brandon Federici led all scorers with 25 points apiece. 

Box Score: https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/1774164/bs.html#ASFSK

Post-Game Reaction: 

Coach Mellor reflected on his team’s inability to score down the stretch, he said:

“We competed well defensively, and it was a pretty even game throughout, but we didn’t close the game out, and they took full advantage.” 

Next up for Dragons is the first round of the playoffs, where they will match up against the Essex Rebels on Sunday, April 25th, with tip-off at 1pm. 
​Photographs © Alex Daniel Photography

Comments are closed.
    Picture
    Picture
    Tweets by @bballengland

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Registered Address:  
Bradford Dragons Basketball Club, c/o Isaacs Solutions, Trust House, St James Business Park, 5 New Augustus Street, BRADFORD, BD1 5LL
The name Bradford Dragons and the Bradford Dragons logo is the exclusive property of Bradford Dragons Basketball Club Ltd.
​All Rights Reserved. © 2017. All other names and logos remain the property of their respective owners.