Hemel Storm will head to Birmingham to face the Rockets on Saturday evening, hoping to advance their NBL Division One record to 13-0.
After the National Cup final defeat in the first week back after Christmas, Storm returned to league action last weekend and maintained their 100% record with victories over Worthing Thunder and Essex Rebels. Both games would have been identified as potential slip-ups for Storm, who could easily have compounded their woes of failing to pick up the season’s first piece of silverware with a first league loss, but the strength of mind and character shown to pick themselves up and produce a pair of wins will be of encouragement to Head Coach Mark Clark.
In particular, Trent Monkman continued to work his way back to form after his impressive start to life at the club was halted by injury, and he had a good weekend here. His ability to finish under heavy contact and strong defence is a valuable asset and he also found some fluency from beyond the arc.
Darien Nelson-Henry, the side’s most consistent performer, picked up a place in NBL’s Team of the Week, leading his peers in terms of efficiency on both nights and offering an important outlet with his height and commanding presence inside the paint.
As attention turns to the upcoming weekend’s affairs, Storm will be wary of a Rockets roster that started the season in fine fettle, but have struggled somewhat in replicating those performances as the campaign has progressed.
A vastly experienced group, they’ve only won once in their last eight encounters and were dealt a double blow last weekend - thrashed by MK Breakers, before losing a close one to strugglers Nottingham Hoods.
Despite early wins over Derby Trailblazers and Reading Rockets signalling them as potential title challengers, the brummies’ poor run has seen them slip to ninth in the standings and leaves them fretting over missing out on a playoff spot.
Zack Powell appears their main threat, averaging around 17 points for the season, and Storm will pay close attention to suppressing his high levels of energy and athleticism.
Orlan Jackman and Sam Toluwase have an abundance of basketball knowhow between them, competing across British basketball for a number of years, and they’ll hope to use that to trouble their visitors on Saturday evening.
The battle between Jackman and Nelson-Henry under the basket promises to be an intriguing one, with two men familiar to the top flight calling on all their nous to battle it out.
Toluwase is a fierce competitor, willing to use all avenues of attack to his advantage, and he is sure to embark in a heated and fascinating clash with Storm’s Matt Ellis, with the key to success perhaps being who can control their emotions the better after Toluwase was ejected in the reverse fixture at the StormDome.
The Hemel hosts prevailed 17-point victors on that occasion, with Ellis scooping up 31 points, and the same outcome is likely on Saturday should the Canadian unfurl a similar display.
Tip-off is at 7.30 on Saturday evening at the Nechells Wellbeing Centre, B7 5DT, for any keen Storm fans interested in making the trip. Tickets are available for purchase here via the club’s website, and there will also be a women’s game beforehand with the Rockets taking on Bromsgrove Bears.
Storm return to home action on Saturday 8th February at 7pm when Derby Trailblazers visit the StormDome in a huge NBL game. Make sure you don’t miss this one. Tickets available via the fanbase app.
Written by Callum Humphrey