Storm beat London Cavaliers, but Sunday’s game is cancelled
Hemel Storm overcame London Cavaliers in a successful, albeit shorter-than-expected, weekend.
They slept on Saturday’s 101-83 win in Uxbridge expecting to go again the following day, but after discussions with officials in Bristol the clash with the Hurricanes was cancelled.
Following difficulties sourcing a venue after the game was originally postponed in February, issues arose with the Hengrove Park Leisure Centre court which could not be resolved to the referees’ satisfaction.
It meant the long trip proved futile for Tom Baker’s men, but at least they could travel home with the satisfaction of completing a perfect weekend. They may even have been back for dinner.
Saturday’s trip to Uxbridge looked a daunting task on paper. The Cavaliers, still fighting for a top-four finish, have made their college-court home one of the league’s toughest places to visit.
They use the intense environment to their advantage, often utilising their physicality, with away teams struggling to find any rhythm or stimulation.
But the travelling fans helped create an energetic atmosphere and their side were superb in clinching a comfortable victory.
They pulled away in the second quarter and didn’t look back, with the outcome never in doubt down the stretch.
Darien Nelson-Henry backed up last weekend’s BCB Team of the Week-winning performance with another dominant display, mustering 25 points and 15 rebounds. His determination under the basket went a long way in neutralising the Cavaliers’ threat.
Brayden Inger’s laser-like accuracy earned him 24 points, shooting 71% from the field and failing to miss from the two-point range. He embraced the street-style vibe and battled tenaciously.
Matt Norman’s 26 meant the trio racked up 75 between them, allowing the likes of Sam Newman to focus on other matters. Storm’s captain used his playmaking wizardry to accumulate another 11 assists, taking his seasonal total to a league-high 243 at an average of over 11.
There were useful contributions from Mergim Sokoli and Jack Burnell, but Baker was keen not to over-rotate and disrupt his side’s momentum, such was the flow they had found.
Eight unanswered Storm points to begin the piece set the tone, and the lead reached double digits five minutes in.
A Cavaliers run then saw them take a brief one-point lead, the only time they were ahead all evening, and Nelson-Henry’s lay-up ensured the guests ended the first period 23-21 to the good.
Norman’s 15 second-quarter points eased his side further in front, and by the half-time break their advantage was 11 - 46-35.
And they continued their good work after the interval. Baker spoke post match about the importance of keeping a few individuals quiet, and they excelled in nullifying the danger posed by former man AJ Roberts.
It was Newman, not Roberts, who won the point-guard battle and therefore controlled the tempo of the tie, a major factor in Storm’s success.
Juan Manning and Daniel Braster did their best, compiling 31 and 22 points respectively, but the hosts couldn’t lay a glove on their guests. They won the third quarter by eight to move 19 points, 70-51, ahead at the final break.
A late Cavaliers’ comeback could never be ruled out, but no such drama materialised here. Baker was able to remove some of his main man for the closing minutes, valuable rest ahead of the following day’s excursions, or so he thought.
It ended 101-83, before Storm rushed home to recover. They needn’t have bothered, as it turned out, as Sunday’s early start proved unnecessary.
They are back in action next weekend, in the first of three consecutive home matches to finish the season. Tickets for those clashes, starting with the visit of Newcastle Knights on Saturday, are available here.
Written by Callum Humphrey
