BRADFORD Dragons snapped a four-gaming losing streak after grinding out an important 80-74 victory over the Nottingham Hoods in NBL Division One on Sunday afternoon.

A tightly fought encounter for long periods, Dragons clinched the game at the free-throw line in the clutch.

Scoring 15 of 17 fourth quarter points at the line, Dragons highly efficient 25-29 performance at the free-throw line proved to be the games deciding factor.

Facing off against the 2-14 Nottingham Hoods, Dragons were looking to avenge Nottingham’s 85-62 victory in the last meeting between the teams on December 12th, 2020.

Dragons started the game looking to drive to the rim and were rewarded with eight free-throw attempts, in the opening, four minutes of action.

Sparked by their trips to the line, the hosts led 12-6, with four Dragons starters on the scoreboard early.

Nine first quarter points for Victor Olarerin, who led the Hoods as a tight opening period ended with Dragons 23-18 in the ascendency.

The second quarter followed a similar trajectory, with neither team able to create double-digit separation.

Dragons led by as many as seven as Billy Cousins scored seven quick points to open the quarter.

Uche Umekwe and Great Osobor combined to score ten in the period as Dragons led 40-39 at the interval.

With only two points in the final four minutes of the half, Dragons allowed the Hoods to work back into the game courtesy of a 6-2 run.

Heading into halftime, Great Osobor led Dragons with 8 points and 14 rebounds.

As so often has been the case in recent weeks, Dragons young starlets Elijah Walsh and Osobor provided a massive spark, and it was most evident in the opening moments of the penultimate quarter.

The young duo combined to score the Dragons first nine points of the period as the hosts re-established a five-point lead (48-43).

The following seven minutes of action saw four lead changes, with neither team able to maintain a meaningful lead.

The key stint of the quarter came in the final two minutes of play as the Dragons put together an 8-2 run to close the third quarter.

A Walsh three sandwiched in-between two layups from Umewke meant the hosts led 63-56 going into the fourth quarter.

With the game on the line, the tightest quarter of the game unfolded.

Re-establishing some of the aggression that allowed them to get to the free-throw line ten times in the opening quarter, the Dragons first 13 points of the quarter came at the charity stripe.

Knocking down 13 of 14 free throw attempts, the hosts’ efficiency allowed Coach Mellor’s team to weather the Hoods resurgence as the visitors took a 68-67 lead midway through the fourth.

Fortunately for Dragons, the Hoods resurgence was short-lived as they went on a four-and-a-half-minute scoreless run that the hosts duly capitalised on.

Still getting to the line at a considerable clip, nine straight points handed the Dragons their largest lead of the game (76-68) with just over three minutes left on the clock.

Hoods star man Olarerin wasn’t willing to concede defeat just yet, scoring an and-one layup that cut the lead to 76-71.

Then on the Hoods next offensive possession, Kieran Wright knocked down a clutch three to make it a one-possession game, but Tyme Regent-Bascombe responded with a layup to hand the Dragons a 78-74 lead.

After taking a timeout with 20 seconds left on the game clock, the Hoods were unable to score again, and Great Osobor iced the game at the free-throw line with two clutch free-throws.

The Final Score, Bradford Dragons 80-74 Nottingham Hoods. Dragons bounce back to winning ways in a gritty game won at the free-throw line.

Dragons climb to ninth in NBL Division One, improving to 7-11 in the process.

The Official Bradford Dragons Calderdale College Player of the Game went to Uche Umekwe, who scored 16 points and added 5 rebounds.

Elijah Walsh led Dragons in scoring with 18 points, and Great Osobor poured in 14 points, 20 rebounds, and 3 blocks.

Coach Mellor reflected on the weekend’s doubleheader, he said:

“It was disappointing not to take both games this weekend. We got ourselves in a good position against Derby but went scoreless at the end as they closed it out on an 8-0 run. And against Nottingham, it was pretty tight throughout, and we just managed to put together the telling run in the fourth.”

Next up for Dragons is the final game of the regular season, and with playoff seeding still up for grabs, the Dragons host the fifth-seeded, Team Newcastle University on Sunday, April 18, with tip-off at 2pm