BRADFORD Dragons made it two wins from two to start the season, with a narrow 74-71 victory over Division Two side Myerscough Academy in the L Lynch Trophy.

The Dragons hold a commanding position in Group Four heading into this weekend’s final group game against fellow Division One rivals Derby Trailblazers, with the top two advancing into the quarter-finals.

It was a less than vintage Dragons performance against Myerscough on Saturday, but Chris Mellor’s team showed all of their experience to grind out a clutch victory.

Myerscough got the scoring underway but Dragons captain Ricky Fetske responded with a three; the first of many buckets for him in the game.

Andreas Lycoudis provided a nice offensive burst in the first quarter and helped Bradford into a 17-16 lead after 12 minutes.

But a dreadful spell early in the second quarter saw the Dragons go cold, and Myerscough took full advantage, reeling off a 20-3 run to race into a 36-24 lead.

After a much-needed timeout, Bradford picked up the intensity and began to look more like their usual selves.

Attacking hard, they worked their way back into the game from the free-throw line.

Rihards Sulcs, Albert Margai and Fetske all cashed in for two points at the line, but the Dragons still trailed Myerscough 42-33 at half-time.

After both teams cancelled each other out early in the second half, a 10-2 run pulled Bradford to within two points, as Jermayne Laing, Margai and Dave Walsh all scored layups.

Myerscough hit back to go 55-47 in front but Bradford then scored five straight points courtesy of a Tyme Regent-Bascombe layup and a Lycoudis three.

Heading into the final 12 minutes, the Dragons were down by three points.

Dragons stalwarts Sulcs and Fetske showed all their experience in the fourth, providing some huge plays on both ends.

The former sunk two free throws before converting at the line to pull Bradford to within one, before a 10-0 run, sparked by veteran point guard Margai, gave the Dragons a sizeable lead.

But when Bradford’s Uche Umekwe was adjudged to have committed an unsportsmanlike foul, Myerscough knocked down two free throws, and then scored a three, to cut the Dragons’ advantage to just two points.

Fortunately for Bradford, a foul on Umekwe saw him sink both resulting free throws to put his side 72-68 up with less than 30 seconds to play.

A three pulled Myerscough to within one with 10 seconds left on the clock, and they intentionally fouled Lycoudis to extend the game.

Unfazed, Lycoudis stepped up to nail both free throws.

Myerscough managed to get off a tough three in the dying seconds, but much to the delight of the Dragons, the shot didn’t fall, and the game was finally over.

Fetske led by example with a solid all-round performance, racking up 22 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals.