Late Storm surge falls short in Rebels defeat

A fourth-quarter comeback was not enough as Hemel Storm fell to a 99-93 defeat against Essex Rebels on Saturday evening. 

It was a tight affair throughout, but when the Rebels extended their lead to a game-high 13 midway through the final period they were heavy favourites. 

But Tom Baker’s side rallied and cut the deficit to two with under a minute to play, but the hosts kept their heads to snap their own four-game winless streak. 

For Storm, it was the story of their season. They competed well, were in the game for large parts, but came away with nothing, on the wrong end of a narrow margin once more. 

It was their eighth single-digit defeat of the season, and had they found a way to get over the line in a few of those, the picture may look very different. As it is, they’re now five wins off the playoffs with six games remaining, their post-season hopes all but over. 

Kai Walker has been a bright spark amid a challenging campaign, and he impressed again here. The Brit led Storm’s scoring with 25 points, seconded by Darien Nelson-Henry’s 23. The big man also had 10 rebounds, securing another double-double, and there were 12 more assists for playmaking phenom Sam Newman. 

A statement start saw Storm’s lead climb to nine in the first quarter, but a flurry of late Rebels threes ensured the period ended level at 27 apiece. 

The second quarter went back and forth but a long-range Jack Burnell hit meant that, again, there was nothing to separate the sides, 55 each at the half-time break. 

The third period was ultimately the difference in this nip-and-tuck matchup. 

American Miles Brown has hit the ground running in his first year in England, claiming five Player of the Week awards already, and he was at it again this weekend. 

He had 41 points and his ability to come to the party just when his side needed it was essential in their success. Incredibly, he did not turn the ball over once in 39 minutes which, coupled with seven assists and six steals, helped racked up an efficiency index of 54. 

His side had the lead at 11 with 12 minutes remaining, but a 7-0 Storm run to close the third quarter reduced the margin to a manageable five, 79-74, ahead of the final period. 

Brown and his supporting cast threatened to take it out of sight as the difference reached 13 with six minutes on the clock, but Storm weren’t to go down without a fight. 

A couple of forced Rebels turnovers and scores from Walker, Nelson-Henry and Burnell quickly flipped the script, heightening the nerves in the Essex Sports Arena as the margin shrunk to two with 40 seconds to play. 

But there was Brown, closing out the contest with four more points to secure a 99-93 victory for the hosts. 

Storm welcome Worthing Thunder next weekend in what is bound to be a competitive matchup. Tickets are available to purchase here. 

Written by Callum Humphrey