Happy homecoming for Johnson and Hemel Storm
Taylor Johnson led the charge on his return to the StormDome as his side claimed an 83-75 victory over Bristol Hurricanes on Saturday night.
It was the American’s first appearance in Hemel in 575 days, having re-signed for his third spell at the club last month, and he marked the occasion with a 30-point display. His arrival coincided with a relentless road run for Jake Rothauge’s men, with four long away trips on the bounce, and home comforts proved enough to help them snap a rare three-game losing streak and claim their second British Championship Basketball league win.
Defeats to Nottingham Hoods, Yorkshire Dragons and Newcastle Knights were all tight affairs, symbolic of an even league boasting talent throughout, and Storm finally found themselves on the right side of the fine margins and were afforded the fortune they’ve lacked in recent weeks.
Bristol, whose only win of the season so far came at the same arena in the BCB Trophy, fought hard, despite missing American James Claar and seeing Denzel Ubario ejected, but Storm were able to shake off some late nerves and get over the line in front of a sold-out crowd.
Matt Norman had 21 for the hosts and was the only man alongside Johnson to register double-digits, but there were contributions from the whole side, including 15 assists for Sam Newman and 13 rebounds for Darien Nelson-Henry.
Norman’s fast start helped Storm grab an early lead, knocking down a trio of three-pointers as his side took the first period 27-23.
He and Johnson continued to pose the main threat for the hosts, with the latter making a pair of free-throws to end the half 10 to the good, 50-40 the score.
A run of 10 early third-quarter points ended in a technical foul as Johnson entered the fierce zone of determination familiar to many in these parts. Jovan Rai replaced him and ensured his side remained in the ascendancy, notching five points much to the delight of the home crowd and one particularly interested spectator.
A missed layup from Ubario ended the third period at 71-62, but the former Newcastle Eagle felt he had been fouled and remonstrated with the officials. A prolonged confrontation ended in a technical foul and he was ejected from the game due to an earlier unsportsmanlike foul - an important moment with the guard his side’s bright spark to that stage with 21 points.
Nonetheless, it was never going to be straightforward for Storm, such has been the way recently, and the Hurricanes remained in touching distance throughout the fourth. Alarm bells began to ring when Kai Walker limped off injured with just under five minutes to play and the guests narrowed the deficit to seven soon after.
But Nelson-Henry and Johnson converted, four of only seven points scored in the final three-and-a-half minutes as both offences faltered, and Storm had their first win of November.
See more photos of the action here.
Winning is a habit and Storm will hope to bounce off this victory as they travel to Derby for another tough test against the Trailblazers next weekend. Tickets for that one are available here, while Storm return home on 29 November for the visit of Bristol Flyers II.
Written by Callum Humphrey
