IMPROVING Bradford Dragons could not make it three wins on the trot, losing 75-65 in English National Division One against London Lituanica
at NewVic College.
The hosts, who are all Lithuanians, are seeking a third straight promotion and led 21-20 and 39-36 after the end of the first two quarters.
However, as it has so often in the recent past, the third quarter proved the Dragons' Achilles heel, with Lituanica stretching their advantage to 13 points.
Dragons pulled that margin back to five points in the final quarter, but it was too little, too late.
Adria Rodriguez Vinas headed Bradford’s scorers for the second weekend in succession, with an impressive 23, Jason Swaine contributing 14 and Nicholas Moore 13.
Dragons' coach Chris Mellor said: "We were in the game at half-time, down three, but we played a really bad third period and left ourselves with a mountain to climb.
"We cut it to five late on, but late turnovers cost us a chance of getting it close.”
The defeat leaves Bradford 11th in the table, four points above the relegation spots.
Mellor and his team will be keen to put more distance between themselves and the bottom clubs when Derby Trailblazers visit the Dragons' Den on Saturday (6.15pm).
Elsewhere for the Dragons, both the under-16s and under-14s recorded victories.
The under-16s won 101-82 at Leicester Warriors, while the under-14s triumphed 64-63 at Durham Wildcats.
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