Hemel Storm face their final double-header weekend of the season, knowing that a pair of wins will see them mathematically secure their second league title in three years.
After Dru Spinks and his unbeaten side of 2022/23 picked up the trophy, Derby Trailblazers prevented Storm from defending their crown last year, but Mark Clark’s men have led the race to regain the honour from the outset this campaign, with two wins from their final three regular season matchups needed to confirm their status as champions.
Last weekend saw them bounce back from their toughest stretch of the season so far. Consecutive defeats to Essex Rebels and Loughborough Riders marked the first time Storm had lost back-to-back league fixtures since March 2022 - nearly three years ago - and the home defeat to Reading at the backend of February meant they’d lost three in four. However, they returned to winning ways by overcoming a determined Bristol Hurricanes on the road on Saturday evening.
Matt Ellis was back having missed the last three with concussion, and Storm’s leading scorer had himself a huge 29 points and 13 rebounds to push his team over the line in a tight, tense affair - eventually claiming an 87-91 victory. The Canadian’s display was enough to earn him another Player of the Week award and it would surely be hard to overlook him for the league’s MVP come the end of the season.
Clark will be aware his troops were far from at their best, but it marked an important outing to snap the losing streak and refamiliarise themselves with the rewarding feeling of success. Now, with the visit of Newcastle Knights and a trip to London Cavaliers on the horizon, he’ll be hoping to bag his second piece of silverware since joining the club at the start of last season.
First up is the Knights on Saturday evening. The side from Newcastle may count themselves unlucky, making the long trip across the country for the second time this campaign having already tasted defeat at the StormDome in the National Cup. Mark Elderkin’s team could yet be spending even more time on the road, fighting for one of the final playoff places that could see them meet Hemel again in the quarter-final of the postseason competition.
They boast a star-studded roster, but have struggled to convert that into a consistent stretch of form. They sit in ninth at the moment - all to play for as they bid for an all-important top-eight finish - and certainly have the firepower to hurt Storm.
Hafeez Abdul, formerly residing in Hemel, is the second leading scorer across the whole league, averaging 21 points per game, while American Ronald Blain needs no introduction to Storm fans. The former Worthing Thunder man has haunted them on occasion, often playing the pantomime villain, and his battle with Matt Ellis will be one of great intrigue.
Logan Rooney and Corey Johnson add to the notable threats on the perimeter, but Storm may target the inside areas to gain an advantage on Saturday evening. Darien Nelson-Henry will be licking his lips due to the lack of a notable presence under the Newcastle basket, and if he can continue his fine partnership with Ellis, they should control matters in the paint.
As well as the 108-77 National Cup semi-final win, Storm also overcame the Knights in league action at the very start of the season - 109-81 victors at Newcastle University. They’ll be desperate to make it a treble at the StormDome on Saturday evening in order to secure a shot at glory the following day.
The trip to Uxbridge College is one that is familiar to Storm, but Sunday will be the first time they make the journey to take on the ‘London’ Cavaliers, with their local rivals Thames Valley recently rebranding.
Again it’ll be the third meeting of the teams this season, with Storm boasting a 2-0 record at this stage. First came a 12-point KitKing Trophy win in September, before an 11-point triumph in the league last month. Remarkably, the scores from respective fixtures differ by only one, 80-68 against 80-69, so perhaps we know what to expect from Sunday’s meeting already.
The Cavaliers are made up primarily of former top-flight talent, including ex-London Lion Justin Robinson, Ed Lucas and Matthew Bryan-Amaning. A pair of familiar faces will also return, with AJ Roberts and Shaquille Lewis back in town, but the side have embarked on a torrid recent run of form seeing them drop back from the playoff hunt.
Six losses in a row, including a tight one against Derby Trailblazers on Saturday, have seen them drop to 10th. They have four games remaining, including a trip to Nottingham the day before the meeting with Storm, in which they’ll hope to refind some fluidity and rally to make the postseason affairs.
Storm sealed their previous league title in Newcastle, but they’ll be determined to make sure of matters in the rather less distant location of Uxbridge this weekend and ensure the race is not prolonged into the final week of the regular season, where they travel to Bradford.
Tickets are selling fast for Saturday’s StormDome fixture against the Newcastle Knights so make sure you book via the Fanbase app. Tickets are also available to purchase for Storm's playoff quarter-final on the 12th April, with the opposition still to be confirmed.
For those wishing to make the trip to support Storm this Sunday, tip-off is scheduled for 5pm at Uxbridge College - UB8 1NQ. Tap here to access ticket information.
Written by Callum Humphrey