BRADFORD Dragons hosted Worthing Thunder in their final home fixture of the National Basketball League Division One season last Saturday and came away with a brilliant 86-81 win, overcoming a 12-point half-time deficit.

The Dragons had come from behind to win the reverse fixture 85-81, and in doing so again, they have almost secured their spot in the play-offs, with one win from their final four league games, all away, likely to be enough to seal an all-important top-eight berth.

Bradford made a bad start on Saturday though, as despite Zion Tordoff’s early two, they found themselves seven points behind early on.

A nine-point unanswered streak gave Bradford a narrow lead, but Worthing hit back to lead 23-15 at the end of the first quarter.

Tordoff and Rihards Sulcs closed the gap to four points early in the second period and the scores remained close until just before half-time.

But Worthing hit their straps to race into a 14-point lead, before a last minute two from Tordoff dragged Bradford back to 44-32 behind at the break.

In the third quarter, the Dragons ground their way back into the game and when Tordoff converted a spectacular Alley Oop, exactly halfway through the period, the hosts were just 53-48 behind.

Although Worthing briefly pushed their lead back out to seven points, Jordan Whelan hit back by sinking a two and a trey.

When Sulcs produced another trey soon after, the Dragons suddenly found themselves 56-55 in front.

The final three minutes of the period saw the teams trade baskets and the quarter ended with Bradford trailing 63-62.

Tordoff, Ronald Blain, Sulcs and Justin Williams all scored in the opening three minutes of the final passage of play to give Bradford a 71-65 advantage.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Justin Williams (1) scored for Bradford in what proved to be a decisive spell at the start of the fourth quarter.Justin Williams (1) scored for Bradford in what proved to be a decisive spell at the start of the fourth quarter. (Image: Max Lomas.)

But the Thunder hit back well to bring the gap back down to a solitary point.

Bradford increased their lead again though, and with time running out, Worthing were forced into giving away fouls and sending the Dragons to the line.

The tactic did not work for the visitors and, as the buzzer sounded, the Dragons were able to celebrate an 86-81 victory.

The Calderdale College Player of the Game Award went to the superb Tordoff, who top scored with 21 points, while adding 12 rebounds to register a double-double.

The Dragons now take a short break from league action, while they turn their attention to the club’s first ever major cup final appearance this weekend.

The KitKing Trophy Final takes place this Saturday evening (tip-off 7pm) at Loughborough University.

The Dragons go into the game as underdogs, up against current league leaders Derby Trailblazers, but Chris Mellor’s side will be doing everything in their power to bring some silverware back to West Yorkshire.

The fixture is expected to be a sell-out, so fans are advised not to travel unless they have pre-purchased tickets.

For those supporters who do not make it to Loughborough, the game will be streamed live on the Basketball England YouTube channel.