BRADFORD Dragons crashed to a heavy 90-65 defeat at Nottingham McDonalds Hoods in National Basketball League Division One.

Both Bradford and Nottingham were level on league points, prior to this clash. The Dragons sat just one place above the Hoods in the table, by virtue of Bradford winning the reverse fixture, 103-91, on the opening day of the season in October.

Bradford trailed from the onset, with Dalaney Powell sinking the first points of the game within three seconds of the tip-off.

Rihards Šulcs levelled for the Dragons, before the hosts went on an unanswered nine-point run, to give them the early advantage.

The visitors managed to pull back to within seven points, but Nottingham were too strong and by the end of the first period their lead was up to 11 points, 26-15.

Within two seconds of the restart, Matthew Armstrong sank a sweet three-pointer for the Dragons, however this was almost immediately cancelled out by a three from Nottingham veteran, David Watts.

Allie Fullah bucketed a two, followed by a further three by Andreas Lycoudis to reduce the deficit to just six, giving the few away fans a glimmer of hope.

However, the hosts soon took control again and by half time they had increased their advantage to 17 points, 45-28.

After the break, Cole Welle dunked for the hosts, increasing their lead yet further, before scores from Šulcs and Ricky Fetske reduced it back to 13.

With three minutes of the third quarter left, Nottingham burst back to life and stretched their lead yet further.

When the sides took the court for the final quarter the Dragons were on the wrong side of a 23-point gulf (68-45) and there seemed no way back.

The Hoods stretched out to 28 (73-45) while Bradford struggled to get anything to sink at the other end.

With two minutes left, the visitors were dead and buried, when Hoods captain, Luke Mitchell gave his side a 35-point cushion, 89-54.

Bradford to put up a series of scores, but it was too little too late and the game ended with the Hoods sealing a convincing victory, 90-65.

Šulcs put in the game high score, totalling 21 points for the Dragons, whilst also achieving a double-double with 11 rebounds.

Fetske chipped in with a double double-double of his own, with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Lycoudis also contributed 12 points to the Dragons' total. Allie Fullah topped the rebound charts with 14.