Storm defeat Breakers in double-overtime epic to start league campaign with a win
Hemel Storm overcame Milton Keynes Breakers for the second time in two weekends on Saturday, in one of the greatest games the StormDome has ever witnessed.
After a particularly slow start, Tom Baker’s side worked their way back into the contest, cheered on by a vociferous home support, and wrestled back a lead they held for the majority of the fourth quarter.
But the Breakers pulled it back, sending the game into a first period of overtime, and when the sides again couldn’t be split, a second additional period was required.
The hosts, led by an inspired Jared Small, eventually got over the line to take a 102-94 win in a match-up packed with passion and drama to successfully start their league campaign and make it five straight victories in all competitions.
The tie had a lot to live up to after Storm’s hard-fought Trophy win last weekend, but it somehow went above and beyond.
Storm’s early offence was stagnant as their shots simply refused to drop, but they never let the visitors escape their grasp, and with the backing of their home crowd nothing is ever impossible.
After managing some discomfort in his back while settling into life in Hemel, Small announced himself on the scene emphatically here.
Despite being hampered by foul trouble throughout, his 26 minutes yielded 26 points and his long-range shooting carried his side at times, responsible for seven of the hosts’ nine three-point conversions.
Jabari Nurse again excelled, fighting his way to a double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Sam Newman followed his impressive performance last time out with another captain’s display, registering 13 points, nine assists and four steals.
Crucially, Storm led the 41 minutes he was on the court by 14 points, evidence of how important the 30-year-old remains to Baker. What he would have given for a regulation victory by that margin.
His side didn’t make it easy for themselves. With the exception of Small, they connected with just two of their 25 three-point attempts, a mere 8%.
But the fact they were able to battle to a win against a strong Breakers outfit while being far from their best must be of great encouragement. They seemed to sense their opportunity as the game wore on.
Good looks came and went as they fell to an early 0-9 deficit, and even with the introduction of Small, they trailed by 11 at the end of the first quarter.
Kai Walker’s hustle made an impact off the bench in a frenetic tussle, but still his side found themselves up against it at the half, the Breakers leading 47-36.
But they knew they weren’t out of it.
Even with an early Small foul, his fourth, condemning him to the bench for the majority of the second half, they worked their way back. As the decibel level in the arena rose, Storm’s defensive intensity increased with it.
The Breakers registered only four points in almost nine minutes to start the second half as Storm won the quarter by 10 and took their first lead of the game, only for the Breakers to snatch back a one-point advantage ahead of the final 10 minutes.
The feisty Alex McNaught continued to frustrate the Breakers as Storm, feeding off the energy of the crowd, gained a six-point lead with under three minutes on the clock.
But their offence deserted them as Jordan Spencer took control for the guests, tying the scores at 74, with McNaught missing a tough lay-in to steal it on the buzzer.
So to overtime it went, where neither team could extend their lead past four. The Breakers had the final possession of the period and with it a chance to snatch the win, but McNaught stuck to Spencer like a flea and MK’s captain could only manage a wayward pass.
Bedtimes may have been breached but the clamour of the crowd was unrelenting.
Small opened the second period of overtime with a three, and Newman, Nurse and Brayden Inger all helped to push their team’s advantage to eight.
Another long-range hit from Small marked the dagger, and Storm held their nerve from the free-throw line to finally bring to an end an epic.
A statement win encompassing adversity, emotion and tension should do much for the confidence and cohesion of Baker’s side, who return to action with another home game against London Cavaliers on Saturday.
Tickets are available on the Fanbase app, if you can take another 40 minutes of excitement!
Written by Callum Humphrey