The Bulldogs Senior team wrapped up their preseason with a thrilling 85-82 victory over Ipswich Basketball Club, overcoming a sluggish start and a 10-point halftime deficit to secure the win.
Despite being short-handed due to injuries and player unavailability, the Bulldogs showed resilience. Chuck Duru led the team early on, scoring 12 points in the first quarter, though they trailed 23-22 after the opening period. Defensive struggles allowed Ipswich to pull ahead, leading 48-38 at halftime.
The second half saw a much-improved defensive performance led by Drey Brown and Prince Lartey, as the Bulldogs clawed their way back into the game, trailing 67-61 heading into the final quarter. In the fourth, scoring from Conor O’Reilly and Drey Brown helped the Bulldogs outscore Ipswich 24-15 to take the win and end the preseason on a high note.
Head Coach George Gazetas praised his team’s resilience, saying:
“They outplayed us in the first half but we showed resilience in the last quarter. Trailing by 10 points at halftime, the team responded with energy and composure in the second half, which is exactly what we need to see at this point in the preseason. Our defence tightened up, and we made some key plays down the stretch to secure the win. This was a good test of our character and an opportunity to work on our chemistry as we prepare for the season. There’s still plenty of work to do, but I’m proud of the way the guys fought back and stayed focused under pressure.”
Conor O’Reilly led all scorers with 27 points, supported by Chuck Duru and Drey Brown with 18 and 15 points respectively.
The Bulldogs now set their sights on the upcoming league opener away against Richmond Knights, set to take place on Saturday 5th October.