Saturday sees Hemel Storm bring their regular season campaign to an end, with a lengthy journey to face Bradford Dragons on the horizon. After clinching the league title last weekend, Storm will still be looking to secure a win and pick up momentum for the playoffs.
The last clash between these two teams saw an incredibly close battle, as Storm emerged 87-79 victors in the first fixture of the season. Whilst the Dragons currently sit at the bottom of the table, they are not an opposition to be taken lightly. This season has proved less than ideal for the Yorkshire side as they have found themselves on the wrong side of results throughout the fixture, despite containing the talent to win more games.
The roster of the Dragons includes notable talent, with the main threat coming from Jordan Whelan and Justin Williams. Whelan is no stranger to British Basketball, formerly representing the Manchester Giants in the British Basketball League before moving to Bradford. Whelan has made himself a tough player to guard, as his unpredictability has helped to improve his game. Williams on the other hand has showed his ability as an incredibly talented player as he has hurt Storm on multiple occasions in previous fixtures. If Williams is able to find form from beyond the arc, this could help to inspire the Dragons into potentially emerging victorious.
As for Storm, they will look to turn to the threat of Ellis, who will look to redeem himself after only scoring 9 points in the defeat to the London Cavaliers. He has shown his consistency throughout the season and should make himself a presence inside the paint. From beyond the arc, Storm will turn to Moton and Newman, who have proved in many games that they can be comfortable under pressure and connect from three point range.
Overall, it will be a tough game for Storm who will aim to gain some momentum heading into the playoffs. Alongside this, winning the final game will bring a successful campaign to a conclusion, which will be etched onto the minds of Mark Clark and his men.
Storm will be back at home next weekend, Saturday 12th April for the Playoff Quarter Finals, 7pm tip off. Their opponent will be known by the end of the weekend. The home crowd really does make the difference so make sure you get your tickets via the Fanbase Platform before they sell out!
Written by Ollie Heathcote