Dragons run out of fire on the road (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford Dragons run out of fire on the road

4:50pm Monday 12th March 2012 in Basketball By Sports Desk

Bradford Dragons were unable to repeat their defensive heroics of the previous week as they lost 77-61 at Medway Park Crusaders to slip to sixth in Division One of the English Basketball League.

The long trip to Kent appeared to take its toll as the Dragons fell 23-15 behind by the end of the opening quarter.

They picked up in the second period and restricted the hosts to nine points but still trailed 32-25 at half-time.

The Crusaders then dominated the third section to build up a 58-36 advantage, with Bradford unable to close down their opponents’ perimeter shooting.

Although the Dragons won the final period as new boy Angel Manana weighed in with ten points, they were unable to haul back such a large deficit.

Bradford coach Chris Mellor said: “We didn’t play a good game and didn’t create our usual atmosphere defensively or offensively.

“Our shot selection and completion rate was very poor. They were good though. They shot and ran the ball really well and defended and rebounded better than us.”

Rihard Sulcs top-scored for the Dragons with a game-high 23 points, while Michal Ciesla’s nine points backed up Manana’s contribution.

Bradford next travel to play Derby Trailblazers on Saturday.

Other Dragons teams enjoyed better weekend fortunes, including the men’s second team being awarded a 20-0 walkover against Mersey Tigers in EBL Division Four.

Bradford’s women won 55-40 at Sheffield Gems in the Leeds League after a final-quarter fightback and backed that up with a 61-28 local derby romp at Bradford Maroons.

But Bradford College Dragons lost 99-64 at Doncaster Danum Eagles in their EBL Under-18s Conference game.