Breakers back in town as Storm begin league season
Hemel Storm start their regular-season campaign this Saturday as Milton Keynes Breakers visit the StormDome for the second time in two weeks.
Storm claimed a hard-fought 99–93 win last Saturday in what was a shootout for top spot in the BCB Trophy’s Midlands group.
It maintained Tom Baker’s side’s perfect record thus far, while a strong Breakers team fell to their first defeat of the campaign.
Another tight contest is expected this weekend as Storm look to repeat their success, while Nigel Lloyd’s men search for revenge.
Opposition Focus
Despite last weekend’s defeat, it’s been a strong start for the Breakers this season.
They booked their spot in the Trophy quarter-finals with wins over Oaklands Wolves, Loughborough Riders and Birmingham Rockets, and gave Storm their toughest test yet on Saturday.
American Nick Woodard has proved a strong addition, and averaged 22.3 points per game in his four Trophy group games, including 23 last weekend.
Experienced guard Jordan Spencer continues to control proceedings, while former Derby Trailblazers’ sharpshooter Jonas Dietrich provides a constant threat.
Key Matchup
Point-guard vs point-guard. Captain vs captain. Veteran vs veteran.
Sam Newman dominated the battle with Jordan Spencer on Saturday, registering 22 points and coming up clutch for his side down the stretch.
Spencer, meanwhile, was largely nullified and was frustrated by some attentive Storm defence.
Limiting his input was a crucial factor in Storm’s victory, and Baker will be hoping his skipper can come up trumps again this weekend.
In Numbers
Head-to-Head Record:
Storm wins: 7
Breakers wins: 4
*All competitions, since the start of the 2021/22 season.
BCB Trophy Record:
Storm: 4–0
Breakers: 3–1
Trophy Top Scorers:
Storm: Jabari Nurse – 18.3 PPG
Breakers: Nick Woodard – 22.3 PPG
From the Locker Room – Jabari Nurse
“Last weekend was an absolute dogfight with MK but we expected nothing less.
“I’m glad we came out with the win, credit to the guys at MK for battling, but we’re excited for what is to come with the team we have.
“I believe we’re going in the right direction each week. This weekend will be another test with MK back in town, but nothing we’re not prepared for.’
What We Learned Last Week
It was a nerve-rackingly tight contest at the StormDome, played at a ferocious pace with twists and turns galore.
Both sides are clearly capable of game-changing periods, with Storm racing out to a 21–7 lead before a similar Breakers surge pulled them back into contention.
While big hitters Ty Nsangu and Jordan Spencer were kept relatively quiet, both teams contain threats from all angles. While Victor Olarerin, Jabari Nurse and Sam Newman stepped up for Storm, Nick Woodard and Jonas Dietrich came to the fore for the Breakers.
The hosts’ tenacious defence appeared to unsettle Nigel Lloyd’s side, so you can expect Tom Baker’s side to utilise that tactic again on Saturday. It will also be interesting to see how the Breakers adapt defensively after their intense focus on Nsangu afforded Newman more space to score.
Game Information
Tip-off is at 7pm at the StormDome, with tickets available on the Fanbase app.
Elsewhere, you can stay updated via our social media channels, the livestream or the livestats.
Written by Callum Humphrey