Storm fall short in festive thriller against Thunder

It was an agonising end to 2025 for Hemel Storm, as they surrendered a 15-point lead to fall to a one-point 89-88 defeat in Worthing. 

Storm were boosted by the return of Matt Norman and Kai Walker from injury, as well as the addition of new recruit Mergim Sokoli, and were much improved in the first half. 

However, second-placed Thunder came out fighting after the interval and Storm couldn’t quite cope - missing out on a late opportunity to claim a statement win on the road. 

Darien Nelson-Henry fought ferociously under the basket and finished with a 22-point double-double, and Norman’s return yielded 20. 

Sam Newman’s 13 assists saw him become the first man to reach 100 British Championship Basketball assists, and there seemed to be more cohesion across the whole court for Storm as they combined excellently to take an early lead. 

Leading 24-22 at the first break, they quickly extended their lead and it was out at 13 by half time, although it easily could have been more. 

But the Thunder, as well as their home support, came alive in the third quarter, taking the period by 10 to narrow the margin to three. 

Last season’s league MVP Justin Hopkins was inspired, claiming 31 points, and it felt like he and fellow American Elijah Maynard could not miss at times. 

A 10-0 Worthing run had them eight to the good, 83-75, with three-and-a-half minutes to play, and it looked as though the closing stages may be comfortable for the hosts. 

But Storm rallied hard and a mammoth Johnson three made it a two-point game with seven seconds remaining, and his side reclaimed possession when Elliot Dadds failed to inbound the ball within the allotted five seconds. 

Then, Bode Adeluola was called for an off-the-ball foul before Newman could inbound for Storm, giving Norman a free shot with his side retaining possession. 

Norman connected, narrowing the margin to one, but Newman’s pass to Johnson broke free and it was the hosts who eventually grabbed the loose ball and with it, an 89-88 win. 

That’s it for the year for Storm, who return to action with a home game against MK Breakers on Saturday 3 January. Tickets for that one are available on Fanbase.  

Written by Callum Humphrey