Saturday night sees Storm host Loughborough Riders in the quarter final of the KitKing Trophy. After topping the group following a narrow 3 point defeat away at Essex Rebels, Storm will be looking to respond quickly in front of a passionate StormDome.
Hemel Storm ended their group stage with a doubleheader weekend, which saw mixed fortunes. After an emphatic 80-68 victory at home to Thames Valley Cavaliers and a 70-67 loss to Essex Rebels. There were both positives and things to work on ahead of this weekend. In particular, the individual brilliance of Canadian import Matt Ellis was noticeable, as his presence inside the paint was evident against the Cavaliers, registering 30 points as well as 9 rebounds and 4 blocks on the defensive end of the court. Both Ellis and Monkman used their years of playing at the University of Victoria together to their advantage, as their hustle and scoring prowess made a significant difference on Saturday.
Despite many positives in the opening fixture, both encounters last weekend saw Storm shoot 20% from three point range on Saturday and 17% three point rate on Sunday. As the team continues to grow and gel together, they have showcased their excellent ball-movement, alongside their selflessness when inside the three point arc.
Loughborough Riders will be making the journey to Storm, having finished runners up in their group. Having also experienced a win and loss last weekend, with a crucial victory at home to City of Birmingham Rockets, the Riders roster contains an array of talent. A notable performance came in Saturday’s defeat against MK Breakers, as Justin Hedley registered an outstanding 34 points, alongside Victor Ndoukou, who combined for 38 points over the 2 fixtures. Both of these players are familiar to the league, and have proved a threat for many seasons. However, their collapse away at MK Breakers after leading by 9 points at the start of the fourth quarter could give Storm an indication of the intensity of defence required against a team who can shoot the ball accurately.
A face that will be familiar for Loughborough Riders is Joe Bielak, who joined Storm during the summer, having played for the Riders last season. His impact has proved integral to the Storm side, emphasising the strength in depth required for a successful team in a competitive division. Whilst studying for his Masters at the University of Hertfordshire, Bielak’s contributions have been evident, especially after 2 vital three pointers at home to Cavaliers, which turned the closing stages in Storm’s favour. His ability to shoot from the perimeter and draw contact when driving to the basket makes him a problem to guard for the opposition.
In what is a win or go home scenario, both teams will be looking to secure victory to advance to the Semi Finals of the KitKing Trophy. With Storm having previously won the competition in the undefeated 2022/23 campaign, they will be wanting to win the trophy for a second time, whilst the Riders will be looking to cause an upset.
Tickets for Saturday’s home game are available on the FanBase app.
By Ollie Heathcote