Bradford Dragons finished off the regular English Basketball League Division Three North season in style with a 83-72 derby win at home to Bradford Maroons and a 102-85 victory at basement side Tyne Met Trojans.

Before the start of the game, Dragons received the league trophy in front of a packed and noisy Trinity Green crowd.

The largest home crowd of the season saw a bright start by Dragons give way to a Maroons charge, with Richard Sulcs on fire with 12 first-quarter points to give them a 25-22 lead at the first break.

Maroons continued to pressure the game with some big triples from beyond the arc to edge the second quarter and be ahead 43-39 at haf-time.

With guest DJ and legendary basketball announcer Mike Shaft whipping the crowd up, Dragons fought back, with Tom Martin making some tough lay-ups to take the third stanza 25-16 to lead 64-59 at the final break as Maroons began to tire.

In the last quarter, Dragons gradually eased further ahead as they controlled the boards at both ends and finished the game in style with an alley-oop from top scorer Vance Silcott to give Dragons their first home win against Maroons in five seasons.

For Dragons, Vance Silcott top-scored with 28, Martin scored 17 and Jimi Pournoori hit 13.

After the game, Dragons chairman Stuart Culliford said: "As usual the Dragons v Maroons game was a tight game and a great advert for Bradford basketball in front of our largest-ever crowd.

"The game was tough with no quarter asked and no quarter given. Dragons' coaches Chris Mellor and Mike Thompson have done a great job to win the division 3 with a 21-1 record, bearing in mind we had six new players this season, plus two who joined us during the season.

"We look forward to playing in the English Basketball League Division Two next season but we still have three more possible play-off games to go this season."

Elsewhere for Dragons, their under-16s beat table- toppers Durham Wildcats 61-59 at home, the under-14s lost 118-85 to unbeaten Cheshire Jets, and Dragons 2 men lost a nail-biter 53-52 to York Vikings in a Leeds League Division One home game.

Dragon’s next EBL Division Three home game is the quarter-final play-off against Portsmouth City Smugglers on Saturday (6.15pm) at Trinity Green sports hall at Bradford College, Trinity Road, Bradford, BD5 0JE.

Admission is £3 and £1.50 for concessions.

If Dragons win this game, they will play in the play- off semi-finals on Saturday, March 27 at home at 6.15pm, possibly against London United, who beat Dragons in the National Shield final in Manchester last month.

For further details contact Stuart Culliford on 0781- 6610600 or e-mail info@bradforddragons.co.uk or visit the Dragons website at www.bradforddragons.co.uk.