DRAGONS KNOCK THE SPOTS OFF LEOPARDS
Published on: 21st November 2011
Newly promoted Bradford Dragons climbed to second place in EBL division 1 with a storming 110 – 77 home win against London Leopards and their highest league score of the season to date. The visitors, who had easily beaten Dragons earlier in the season 81 - 68 at home in the National Trophy, came out firing from the start with their American guard Vernon Teel hitting the first 10 points for Leopards. Dragons struggled to adjust at first to the high tempo full court press from Leopards and trailed 10 – 15 midway through the first period. A steal and dunk by Raimonds Pabrieza saw Dragons take the lead at 16 – 15 as Dragons eased ahead.
A buzzer beating double from Vance Silcott saw Dragons ahead 24 – 20 at the first break as the home crowd had time to catch breathe after the furious pace of the first period of play. Dragons began to dominate the second quarter to lead 52 – 40 at half time with a last second tip in for two from Silcott. With the Dragons defence in lock down and preventing Teel from scoring, the Dragons offence ran the break and hit crucial triples to surge to a 23 point lead with only Ousman Krubally keeping the visitors in the game on his way to a 27 point haul.
A clever Bobby Edmunds steal from Teel in the dying seconds and an impossible floater for two on the buzzer saw Dragons lead 82 – 50 at the final break. There was no let up for Leopards in the final stanza as Dragons poured on the points with a spectacular alley oop from Sulcs bringing the home crowd to their feet. Dragons closed out the game 110 – 77 as all Dragons players made the score sheet.
For Dragons, Vance Silcott had yet another double double as he top scored with 30 points and pulled down 12 boards, Rihard Sulcs made 26 points and Chris McGrew weighed in with 19 points.
After the game Coach Chris Mellor said, ‘We played with good intensity defensively and ran at the right moments offensively. Teel and Krubally scored plenty of points but we managed to keep everyone else quiet. Overall it was another good team performance with everyone contributing’.
The following day Dragons were unable to repeat the form of the previous evening as they lost 66 – 86 in the National Cup quarter final game. Leopards came out blasting from the start to race into to a 26 – 19 lead at the first break, this time with a triple from Teel on the buzzer. . Although Dragons dragged it back to a 4 point game, Leopards steadied to take the quarter to lead 42 – 30 at half time. With Krubally dominating the boards at both ends, Dragons were unable to maintain a fight back and trailed 47 – 69 at the final break with John Lister for Leopards scoring 5 triples in the game. A brief surge by Dragons again narrowed the gap in the final stanza but Teel and Krubally held firm to take Leopards to a deserved 86 – 66 win and a semi final berth in the National Cup.
For Dragons Rihard Sulcs top scored with 14, Bobby Edmunds made 13 and Vance Silcott made another double double with 11 points and 10 boards whilst Raimonds Pabrieza also scored 11.
Elsewhere for Dragons, Dragons 2 lost 67 – 92 away to Rossendale Raptors in their EBL division 4 game, Dragons U18 lost 59 – 81 at home to Doncaster Danum Eagles in their EBL U18 conference game and Dragons U14 performed better but lost 36 – 57 at home to Hull Wasps in their EBL U14 game. However, Dragons women maintained their 6 – 0 perfect start to the season with a 59 – 38 home win against a strong Leeds Carnegie team in their Leeds women’s league game.
Dragons next play EBL division 1 leaders Bristol Academy Flyers - who are unbeaten in the league - away on Saturday 3/12/11 at 7pm at WISE – Filton College Campus, Bristol BS34 8QE
Dragon’s next home game in the Dragon’s Den is on Saturday 10th December, 6.15pm at the Trinity Green sports hall, Bradford College, Trinity Road, Bradford BD5 0JE in the EBL division 1 league game against Derby Trailblazers. Admission is £5 adults, £2.50 under 16s, concessions and students and family tickets [adults + 2 children] are £10
For more details on the Bradford Dragons go to www.bradforddragons.co.uk or visit Bradford Dragons for the Community on Facebook
Bradford Eurocamp takes place between Monday 23/7/12 and Friday 27/7/12 based at Bradford College, visit www.bradfordeurocamp.co.uk for more information and contact info@bradforddragons.co.uk to pre order a free colour brochure.
