Storm search for upturn in form as they welcome Birmingham Rockets

Tom Baker will begin his reign as the club’s new head coach at home, as Birmingham Rockets visit the StormDome on Saturday. Read on for all you need to know ahead of the sides’ first ever BCB League meeting…

Head-to-Head Record: 

Games played: 5

Storm wins: 4

Rockets: wins: 1 

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

British Championship Basketball League Positions: 

Storm: 11th

Rockets: 6th

Opposition Scout Report: 

The Rockets are the only BCB side yet to concede 1000 league points this season, and have built their campaign around that defensive solidity. 

A deep, versatile roster has yielded contributions from all over the court, and is headed by former Reading Rocket Zack Powell. 

He returned to his boyhood club last season and is averaging a team-high 17 points in his second year back home. 

Experience is key for the Rockets, with plenty of miles racked up on the British basketball clock between the squad. 

Ronald Blain is a familiar foe of Storm’s, having caused them plenty of problems in his time around the league with Worthing Thunder, Newcastle Knights and Bradford Dragons. 

A 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Orlan Jackman is in his third year with the Rockets, listing former BBL side London City Royals and Worthing Thunder, as well as clubs in Germany and Portugal, among his former locations. 

Former Derby Trailblazer Eric Donaldson has had a solid first year in Birmingham, but it was Lucas McGregor who did the damage the last time the sides met, scoring 20 points as the Rockets stole a close BCB Trophy tie at the start of the season. 

Memorable Meeting: 

Saturday 1st February, 2025

NBL Division One 

Birmingham Rockets 88-92 Hemel Storm

Hemel Storm advanced their league record to 13-0 with an 88-92 victory in Birmingham back in February last season. 

The guests controlled the majority of a back-and-forth tie, although they had to ride out a late Rockets comeback as a 19-point lead with four minutes remaining narrowed to a final margin of just four. 

In the game that saw Hakeem Sylla make his long-awaited return from injury, Matt Ellis top scored for Storm with 25 points, and there were also strong contributions from Sam Newman and Veron Eze. 

Their unbeaten league record would eventually fall at the hands of Reading Rockets, but Mark Clark’s side went on to lift the league title nonetheless. 

Last Time Out:

Storm fell to a 105-77 defeat against Reading Rockets in a weekend that saw the southern side strengthen their bid for BCB League title. 

They were too hot to handle on Saturday evening, playing with a pace and ruthlessness Storm struggled to match. 

The guests did at least come out of the blocks fast, building up an early eight-point lead, but that was as good as it got as the Rockets roared back and did not relent. 

Brayden Inger produced arguably his best display of the season, registering a determined 23 points, and Matt Norman had 22. 

It was a double-winning weekend for Birmingham, who picked up a pair of home wins to aid their top-four push. 

First up, a well-rounded team display saw off bottom-placed Bristol Flyers II. McGregor top scored with 18 as the Rockets romped to an 87-66 victory. 

Next, they stole an overtime thriller against MK Breakers to mark the end of a long but successful two days.

McGregor again led the scoresheet with 17 points to go with 10 rebounds, and Jackman notched 16 as they sealed an 83-80 win. 

From The Locker Room: 

Jack Burnell: “We’re excited as a group about the opportunity to turn this ship around. 

“We still have high expectations for the remainder of the season, and I feel Tom is the right person to lead us through it and help create a real shift in our performances.

“Now we’ve got a great shot at home against a strong Birmingham team, in front of our fans, to start putting things right.”

When, Where and How to Follow: 

Tip-off at the StormDome on Saturday is at the usual time of 7pm. Tickets are available to buy on the Fanbase app. 

For those unable to make the game, you can stay updated by either watching the livestream or following the livestats. 

Written by Callum Humphrey