Mixed Weekend for Dragons

​Bradford Dragons hosted a double header weekend in the Dragons’ Den [Bradford College Sports Hall], entertaining Oaklands Wolves in the National Basketball League Division One on Saturday evening, followed by a National Cup fourth round fixture against Derby Trailblazers on Sunday afternoon.

On Saturday, both teams went into the game with just one win, albeit the Dragons having played one game less than the Wolves, and both would have seen this game as an opportunity to make further strides up the table.

Bradford's resident American, Ricky Fetske, put the first points on the board only to see them immediately neutralised by Kane Daley for the Wolves. Fetske immediately picked up another two, only to see Daley cancel them out yet again on the next offensive. However, the Dragons then went on a nine point unanswered haul, with a string of layups from Zach Gachette [times 2], Dave Walsh and Jermayne Laing, plus a Jabari Edwards single from the penalty line.

​The two sides sparred for the remainder of the quarter but as the buzzer sounded for the first scheduled break the Dragons held a commanding nine-point lead [21- 12].

The second quarter got off to a slow start, with neither side able to add to their totals during the couple of minutes. A single from Gachette, which he then followed up immediately with a double, broke the lull as Bradford stretched their lead to twelve points [24-12], a lead which they maintained through to half time. Bradford returned to the locker rooms with the scores at 40- 28.

​Straight from the restart, Edwards added another two to the Dragons tally and once again it was the hosts who controlled the play, increasing their lead to seventeen-points over the course of the penultimate quarter

The visitors saved their best efforts until the final quarter, but even then could only Match the Dragons point-for-point. The home side took the win [87-70], their second in as many games, which sees them climb to tenth in the league table.

Gachette was the games high scorer with 31 points, whilst Walsh contributed 23 points and picked up the Official Calderdale College Player of the Game Award on the strength of his impressive three point shooting. Fetske recorded a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Daley scored 18 points for the Wolves, and Jonathan James also contributed 17 points to their total.

Sunday’s fixture in the National Cup fourth round, paired the Dragons against Derby Trailblazers for the third time this season. Derby took the plaudits in the two previous duals, with a forty point victory in the group stage of L Lynch Trophy, a game which the Dragons would rather forget, and a much narrower win in the League last month.

Bradford’s head coach, Chris Mellor, opted to rest Fetske, who has been carrying an injury through the early part of the season, and new signing Steve Towell was unavailable due to being cup-tied.

​In a game which was much closer than the final score suggested, Derby were once again victorious, taking a third win against their hosts [77-91].

Gachette was once again the games high scorer, with 33 points – his third 30 plus total in successive games. Edwards added a further 16 points for the Dragons but it was Clayfell Harris who picked up the Player of the Game Award, putting in a stellar performance at both ends of the court as he deputised for the missing Fetske.

Derby progress to the quarter finals of the National Cup, in which they will face tough opposition in the form of Team Solent Kestrels.

​The Dragons return to action on Saturday evening, when they entertain Leicester Warriors in the Dragons Den [tip off 6:15pm], their final fixture at Bradford College before their scheduled move to Calderdale’s Inspire Centre. Tickets for this weekends fixture can be purchased via the Dragons website.