Dragons leave it late to kill Giants

5:40pm Monday 1st December 2008

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Bradford Dragons basketball team bounced back from the shock home defeat to Derby Trailblazers to beat Mansfield Giants on the road 89-79.

Mansfield came out firing and the normally tight Dragons defence conceded 30 points to trail 30-25 at the end of the first stanza.

They pulled it back to lead 50-48 at the halfway mark but the hosts showed the form that saw them beat table-toppers Derby and Sheffield Sabres to win the third quarter and leave Dragons trailing 68-64 at the end of the third period.

But a big final quarter from Dragons saw them win it 25-11 and triumph 89-79 overall.

Coach Chris Mellor said: “I was happy to go in ahead at half-time after giving up 48 points in a half. I told the guys if we could restrict them to around about 80 points we would have a good chance of winning.

“The team has shown great character against Durham in the Shield the previous week and against Mansfield after the disappointing loss to Derby.”

Jake Liebman top-scored for Dragons with 27 ahead of Daumants Pabrieza (23) and Aaron Kay (14).

Dragons chairman Stuart Culliford said: “This helps us recover some of the ground we have lost in the league and makes this week’s game against Manchester yet another key game for us.”

The clash against Manchester Magic-2 starts at 6.15pm on Saturday at Bradford College Trinity Green sports hall.