Team Newcastle University Knights 64 Bradford Dragons 69

Bradford Dragons 72 Hemel Storm 64

BRADFORD Dragons eased their relegation fears by beating both Team Newcastle University Knights and Hemel Storm to move themselves up to seventh in the English Basketball League Division One table.

Bradford started poorly against the Knights, who have already beaten them twice this season, and found themselves 12-0 down inside two minutes.

Thanks to the free-scoring of Ricky Fetske, the Dragons hauled themselves back into the game, and 11 unanswered points late on in the quarter saw them reach the first buzzer 23-22 ahead.

They were caught napping at the start of the second period again though, Newcastle racking up several baskets to take themselves 36-29 in front.

Bradford battled back through scores from Eisley Swaine, Marcus Gooding and Rihards Šulcs, and found themselves only 36-35 behind at the break.

A low-scoring third quarter tilted the game back into the Knights' favour. They led throughout and reached the buzzer with the score at 51-44.

Newcastle soon extended their lead to nine in the final quarter, but Bradford roared back, and a three pointer from Gooding tied the match up at 57-57.

Bradford never looked back after that and they were in the ascendancy throughout the rest of the contest, securing a 69-64 victory.

Gooding and Fetske were the standout performers for the Dragons, scoring 19 points apiece. Swaine chipped in with a vital 11 of his own.

There was no rest for the Dragons, as they entertained Hemel on Sunday. Bradford hadn't learnt their lessons from the previous day, and a slow start saw them trail 27-16 at the end of the first quarter.

Gooding continued his free-scoring from the Newcastle game in the second period, racking up baskets at will. However, Hemel were able to keep the Dragons at arm's length and reached half-time 44-35 in front.

The action in the third quarter proved to be decisive for the outcome of the match. Led again by Gooding, the Dragons dominated and found themselves 54-50 in front by the end of the period.

The final ten minutes were tightly contested and the scores were tied with just over two minutes remaining. However, Bradford managed to pull away before the buzzer, and they secured a 72-64 victory.

Gooding and Fetske contributed 41 points between them, while Šulcs took a hugely impressive 18 rebounds.

Player of the match Gooding said: “Today was a great showcase of us digging down deep and snatching a much needed win.

"We played together and never folded when our backs were against the wall in the first half.

"We defended and rebounded well and it was a great way to finish up a great weekend for our team."

Tomorrow, the Dragons are due to return to the North East, to meet last season's league champions, Team Northumbria.

Basketball then returns to the Den the following Saturday, when Bradford entertain high-flying Worthing Thunder.

Elsewhere, Dragons’ under-14s lost 40-49 against Hatfield Fliers.