BRADFORD Dragons ensured it was a successful home league and cup double header, with a 93-69 win over Barking Abbey Crusaders on Saturday, and a 97-88 National Cup victory over Team Newcastle the following day.

They secured just a second National Basketball League Division One win of the season by beating fellow strugglers Barking.

Bradford raced into a 21-10 lead by the end of the first quarter and the second period started well for them too, with a Ricky Fetske hook shot putting them up by 16 points.

But a spell of lax play gave the Crusaders a lifeline, as the visitors dragged themselves back within four. A couple of Rihards Šulcs’ buckets steadied the ship for Bradford, ensuring a 40-32 half-time lead.

A physical third-quarter saw Albert Margai and Jermayne Laing continue to thrive in attack, while Andreas Lycoudis buried a buzzer-beating three to send the Dragons into the fourth 61-48 to the good.

It was no contest in the final 10 minutes, as a season-high 32 points in the quarter culminated with no less than eight Dragons scoring.

The first quarter of the National Cup Third Round clash with Newcastle the next day was end to end. The Dragons looked lethargic offensively, as the visitors took a 27-23 lead into the second quarter.

With just over six minutes left in the second period, Bradford were down 33-25, but they responded with a monster run to end the half, knocking down six successive threes.

Leading 53-44, they stretched that gap to 11 by the end of the third quarter and a high-scoring fourth period finished with the Dragons reaching a season's best 97 points.

The win sets up a tie with NBL Division One leaders Solent Kestrels in the fourth round.

Coach Chris Mellor said: “It was a tough game for us and even though we had the lead for the majority of it, it was never totally comfortable. They (Newcastle) will be tough to stop in Division Two this season.”

Ricky Fetske recorded a double-double in both games, earning him a pair of Official University of Bradford Player of the Game awards.

Next up at the Dragons' Den is an NBL Division One clash against Hemel Storm on Saturday, November 23 at 6.15pm.