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Bradford Dragons edged out a resilient Leicester Warriors in the Dragons’ Den on Saturday night (82-76), in a game that kept supporters on the edge of their seats right to the end.
Having won their last two league fixtures, the Dragons went into this game in confident mood, against a Leicester Warriors side that had taken just a single win from their opening eight fixtures.
But Leicester also saw the game against Bradford, who themselves have had a slow start to their season, as an opportunity to notch up a second victory and it was them who got the game off to a flying start with a quick two points inside the opening six seconds of play.
David Walsh put the Dragons ahead with a three from beyond the arc, but Leicester’s Delaney Powell responded with a three of his own to put the visitors ahead once again (3-5).
Having won their last two league fixtures, the Dragons went into this game in confident mood, against a Leicester Warriors side that had taken just a single win from their opening eight fixtures.
But Leicester also saw the game against Bradford, who themselves have had a slow start to their season, as an opportunity to notch up a second victory and it was them who got the game off to a flying start with a quick two points inside the opening six seconds of play.
David Walsh put the Dragons ahead with a three from beyond the arc, but Leicester’s Delaney Powell responded with a three of his own to put the visitors ahead once again (3-5).
 | But the Dragons soon clicked into top gear, putting together an unanswered run of eight points, with baskets from Jermayne Laing, Jabari Edwards (x2) and Ricky Fetske, to put the hosts in control (11-5). Again Powell, responded to bring Leicester back to within two points But, the Dragons were in a mean mood and stretched their lead back out again. When the buzzer signalled the end of the first quarter they were nine points to the good, with the scores at 20-11. All was looking good for the Dragons and their fans could have been forgiven for expecting a landslide victory. |
Stephen Towell increased Bradford lead further with a quick two point layup at the start of the second period, however threes from Van Turner and Josh Pollock, which sandwiched a layup from Pollock, quickly brought the Warriors back into the mix (22-19).
Towell stemmed the flow, with a trademark three, before former Dragon, Carl Pearson started the Warriors on another streak, which saw them ahead at the mid point of the quarter (25-27).
The sides traded baskets for the remainder of the period, and a dunk by Bradford’s Zach Gachette was the final score of the half, sending the teams back to the locker rooms all square at 37 a-piece.
Just like in the first half, Leicester were quick out of the blocks after the break, with a two from Theo Riley and Turner added a further trey to put the visors 5 up. It was down to Fetske to pull the Dragons back level, and then the sides went basket for basket, with Leicester taking the lead and Dragons pulling it back.
With little under two minutes to play in the penultimate quarter, Dave Walsh finally put Bradford ahead for the first time in the quarter (56-55) but the lead was short lived and another three from Turner closed out the quarter with the visitors holding a two point lead (58-60).
A Pearson two, followed by a Powell trey quickly increased the gap to seven points at the start of the final period. A lead which they maintained through to the halfway point of the quarter and the home crowd were, by now, fearing the worst.
Powell then fouled on Gachette, sending the Bradford player to the line for two shots. Gachette sank both shots, which seemed to spark the Dragons into fight back mode. Jabari Edwards sank a long distance three, to which Laing added a layup to level the match (72-72).
With the clock running down the next score was all important and when Turner missed with a three point attempt for the visitors, Edwards picked up the rebound, found Walsh down at the other end of the court and the hosts were two point ahead. Edwards then doubled the lead, from a floating jump shot.
But Leicester weren’t finished and this time Turner made sure to sink his three, pulling it back to a one-point ball game. Gachette settled the home sides nerves, making his two point jump shot count and with only 47 seconds remaining on the clock, Leicester were forced into fouling, in an attempt to regain possession.
At this late stage the odds were stacked in the Dragons’ favour, and their was nothing that the Warriors could do to prevent the home side from taking their third straight league win (82-76).
Towell stemmed the flow, with a trademark three, before former Dragon, Carl Pearson started the Warriors on another streak, which saw them ahead at the mid point of the quarter (25-27).
The sides traded baskets for the remainder of the period, and a dunk by Bradford’s Zach Gachette was the final score of the half, sending the teams back to the locker rooms all square at 37 a-piece.
Just like in the first half, Leicester were quick out of the blocks after the break, with a two from Theo Riley and Turner added a further trey to put the visors 5 up. It was down to Fetske to pull the Dragons back level, and then the sides went basket for basket, with Leicester taking the lead and Dragons pulling it back.
With little under two minutes to play in the penultimate quarter, Dave Walsh finally put Bradford ahead for the first time in the quarter (56-55) but the lead was short lived and another three from Turner closed out the quarter with the visitors holding a two point lead (58-60).
A Pearson two, followed by a Powell trey quickly increased the gap to seven points at the start of the final period. A lead which they maintained through to the halfway point of the quarter and the home crowd were, by now, fearing the worst.
Powell then fouled on Gachette, sending the Bradford player to the line for two shots. Gachette sank both shots, which seemed to spark the Dragons into fight back mode. Jabari Edwards sank a long distance three, to which Laing added a layup to level the match (72-72).
With the clock running down the next score was all important and when Turner missed with a three point attempt for the visitors, Edwards picked up the rebound, found Walsh down at the other end of the court and the hosts were two point ahead. Edwards then doubled the lead, from a floating jump shot.
But Leicester weren’t finished and this time Turner made sure to sink his three, pulling it back to a one-point ball game. Gachette settled the home sides nerves, making his two point jump shot count and with only 47 seconds remaining on the clock, Leicester were forced into fouling, in an attempt to regain possession.
At this late stage the odds were stacked in the Dragons’ favour, and their was nothing that the Warriors could do to prevent the home side from taking their third straight league win (82-76).
| For the Dragons, Zach Gachette top scored with 19 points, but the Official Calderdale College Player of the Game Award went to Ricky Fetske, who bagged 18 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. The game top scorer was Leicesters’ Delaney Powell, who hit a massive 34 points and 12 rebounds. This was the Dragon’s final game at Bradford College, as they now prepare to move to their new home at Calderdale College’s Inspire Centre. The first games at the new venue take place on Saturday and Sunday 11th and 12th of December, against the London Lions and Reading Rockets. Tickets are available from the Dragons website at just £5 for both games (£5 per game if you pay on the door). |  |
Before then, the Dragons travel to Loughborough Riders this Saturday for a 6pm tip-off. The Riders sit just one place above the Dragons in the league table on the same points, but having played two games more. Both sides will be looking for the win.
Photos © Alex Daniel Photography
Photos © Alex Daniel Photography
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