Table-topping Hemel Storm host the City of Birmingham Rockets on Saturday as they bid to extend their winning run in the league to nine unbreached.
After last weekend’s success on the road, beating title rivals Derby Trailblazers and progressing past London Elite in the National Cup, Storm will be tested by a Rockets’ roster full of experience and prone to beating the big boys.
The side from Birmingham are in their second season in the NBL’s top flight having narrowly missed out on the playoffs at their first attempt, and recruited smartly in the summer with the intention to push on this time around.
Notably, Zack Powell switched the Rockets in Reading for those in Birmingham and has taken up a starring role since signing, leading their scoring with 15.6 points per game.
Fellow new recruit, Lucas McGregor, has also started impressively - joining the Rockets after a year in the Irish Super League following his arrival on the British Basketball scene with the Worcester Wolves the year before.
They add to a well-known group of talent, with Orlan Jackman and Sam Toluwase both returning to the side. The 36 and 39-year old duo are showing no signs of slowing down, and they make up part of a familiar theme throughout the roster.
Among seven men listed above the age of 30, the squad has a huge wealth of experience and knowhow and it’s clearly a quality the coaching staff looked for when composing the roster.
With Jackman and Toluwase both possessing professional experience, as well as many others with long lasting careers in the game, the side can call on a deep bank of knowledge to pull them through tight contests and find ways to win games that younger teams may not.
They will also play a part in guiding and teaching the emerging youth of the squad, including Luke Okosieme and CJ Hayden.
Okosieme rejoined the Rockets at the start of the year, after his strong performances in the promotion campaign of 2022/23 earned him a short spell at BBL outfit Surrey Scorchers. 24-year old Hayden also signed for the side this season, moving over from the Loughborough Riders where he became a large part of the setup in his four years with the programme.
The pair will hope to dominate the area under the basket for many years to come and Jackman, especially, may play a large part in their progression, passing on some tips of the trade from his long spell in and around British basketball.
The talented team started the year particularly strongly, turning over title contenders Derby Trailblazers and Reading Rockets in the first two weeks of the season.
A slight drop off has occurred, losing four games including back-to-back defeats to the Bristol Hurricanes and Loughborough Riders leading into this tie, but nonetheless they have shown their ability to win big games and Storm won’t be taking that lightly.
Look out for Levi Noel and Leon Henry, who both return to the StormDome to take on their former team, but Coach Mark Clark and his side will be hoping it’s not a memorable occasion for the pair - on the court at least.
Last weekend provided the strongest evidence yet of Storm’s league-winning credentials and saw them move two wins clear of the chasing pack.
Arguably, the title is now theirs to lose but with that comes a heap of pressure. NBL Division One is a thoroughly competitive league, from top to bottom, and there will be plenty of challenges lying ahead for a team that may be eyeing a repeat of their undefeated season in 2022/23.
Should they pass the Birmingham test on Saturday with flying colours, it’s likely Matt Ellis will play a large part - his productive performances earning him a spot in NBL’s Team of the Week last time out.
His 28 points at the Clarence Wiggins Sport Centre was a main factor in his side’s victory and he followed that with a destructive 44 points to pull his side through some adversity in the Cup the very next day.
Storm lead the league in points scored per game, such has been their offensive threat, but only sit sixth in terms of average points conceded, which could make up a possible avenue of improvement for Clark to focus on.
Such signs can only be encouraging for Storm, as they find themselves adrift at the top of the standings, yet are still to find their top level. An extra slice of defensive gloss may be what they need to get past a tricky meeting with the Birmingham Rockets on Saturday.
Make sure to get your tickets now via the Fanbase app and get yourself down to the StormDome as basketball returns to town!
Written by Callum Humphrey