Storm close out year with tough trip to Worthing

Hemel Storm return to action after an enforced absence due to injuries last weekend, as they travel to Worthing on Sunday for their final game of 2025. Read on for all you need to know as we look to end the year with a bang…

Head-to-Head Record: 

Games played: 11

Storm wins: 8

Thunder: wins: 3

*All competitions, since start of 2021/22 season. 

British Championship Basketball League Positions: 

Storm: 11th

Thunder: 2nd

Opposition Scout Report: 

The Thunder, led again by former Championship-winning coach Gary Smith, have assembled a talent-packed roster full of star names and familiar faces. 

Last year’s league MVP at Reading Rockets, American Justin Hopkins was their marquee summer signing, and he’s been quick to make an impression - averaging 20.5 points in his 10 league games so far.  

They also raided the Milton Keynes Breakers, snapping up American forward Adrian Scarborough - another member of last season’s NBL Division One Team of the Year. 

Exciting American guard Elijah Maynard remained at the club after impressing last time out, and two men with plenty of experience on the British basketball scene joined him in Matthew Bryan-Amaning and Elliot Dadds. 

Bryan-Amaning has had top-flight experience with the likes of London Lions and Cheshire Phoenix, while Dadds captained Team Solent Kestrels during their period of NBL domination a few years ago. 

Storm legend Bode Adeluola is one of a few ex-Hemel men among the Thunder ranks, with Danny Evans and Jonathan Lashley also set to face their former team on Sunday. 

Memorable Meeting: 

Saturday 11th March, 2023

KitKing Trophy Final 

Hemel Storm 99-92 Worthing Thunder

It would be unjust of us not to select one of the four brilliant battles contested between these sides across the 2022/23 season, when the Thunder pushed Storm all the way in their pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple of trophies. 

The teams also met in the season-ending playoff game, but here we’ve gone for the KitKing Trophy final where Storm nicked a thriller in front of a packed-out Surrey Sports Park. 

Storm edged a tight first-half that was played at a frightening pace, and took a nine-point advantage into the final quarter. 

That was soon cut to five, but Storm had what was needed to get over the line and bag their second piece of silverware of the season - with much thanks to MVP Taylor Johnson’s 33 points. 

Captain Tayo Oyefusi triumphantly lifted the trophy, and it was a procedure he was forced to repeat twice more, as his side added the Division One and playoff titles to the National Cup and KitKing Trophy. 

Last Time Out:

An injury crisis in the Storm camp saw last Saturday’s scheduled fixture in Birmingham postponed, meaning their most recent action came two weeks ago at home to Essex Rebels. 

With only seven men to choose from, Jake Rothauge saw his side lose 85-98, despite a spirited performance from Taylor Johnson. 

The American had 29 points and 15 rebounds, but in truth his side were always second best and weren’t able to end 2025 at the StormDome on a high. 

Worthing’s title hopes took a blow as they were convincingly defeated by Milton Keynes Breakers at home on Sunday evening. 

They were without key man Scarborough as Chase Thompson inspired a 98-64 victory for the guests, condemning the Thunder to their third league loss of the season.

Bryan-Amaning led their scoring with 14 points, while Maynard and Hopkins were held to just 13 and 10 respectively. 

From The Locker Room: 

Darien Nelson-Henry: “We are really looking forward to getting back after it. 

“There’s no better way to do so than facing some tough competition at the top of the table.

“Securing a win before the holidays would be a great way to gain some momentum ahead of the second half of the season.”

When, Where and How to Follow: 

Sunday’s game will be played at the Worthing Leisure Centre, BN12 4ET, and tip-off is scheduled for 5pm. 

If you can’t make the trip to the south coast to support the boys, you can follow along using the livestats. 

Unfortunately there will be no livestream. 

Written by Callum Humphrey