Hemel Storm douse the Dragons’ flames with victory in Bradford

The win moves Hemel up to fourth in the Division One National League standings and maintains their remarkable record of having never lost to the home team.

The game was a possession by possession battle with rarely more than a couple of baskets separating the teams; the lead changed hands 13 times and was tied on six occasions.

Hemel took the opening quarter with a slim 18-17 advantage following an Adam Rickwood jump-shot.

The second period was a carbon copy of the first but it was the home side’s multi-national squad that edged in front to lead 39-37 by the half-time interval.

After the break, Storm’s changing defences disrupted their opponents’ rhythm and by the end of the third quarter they were ahead at 59-58.

In the final period following a Carl Josey three-pointer that put Storm ahead at 72-68 with less than two minutes left, Bradford responded with a three of their own through Rafi Saipe and closed the gap to a single point.

But this was the last score that Hemel’s stifling defence conceded as a couple of free-throws were enough to secure the win.

Storm head coach Steve Darlow said: “I was pleased with the quality of everyone’s minutes and our solid team performance.

“We held them to 13 points in the last quarter and just ground out a tough road win.”

Meanwhile, Hemel Storm’s U18 team lost a heartbreaker at JFK School on Sunday afternoon to league leaders London Greenhouse Pioneers.

The Pioneers, representing the London Children’s Charity Greenhouse, just managed to hold on for the win despite huge pressure put on them by the home team in the last few minutes.

Storm had struggled for most of the afternoon against the big, athletic and aggressive side from the capital but wouldn’t give up and gave themselves a chance for the win before falling just short at the final hurdle.

A long three pointer from Gus Rees right on the buzzer to end the first quarter kept the score close with the away side up by just a point at 26-25 after a see-saw first period.

A Jack Burnell jump shot with just over two minutes to play in the second gave Storm their first lead of the period and a late three by Lewis Beardsworth held that lead at 54-50 at the close of the quarter.

It was the pivotal third quarter that ultimately cost the home side the game as they were outscored 31-18 with only Tom Sharpe putting up much resistance scoring nine of his side’s total.

With the Pioneers starting the final period up by nine and soon increasing this to 12 points it looked all over.

But some determined play from the home side – especially from playmaker Nick Allin and Dan Moreton – kept the scoreboard ticking over and the lead was whittled down until, with 1.44 left, Storm trailed by just a single point.

The teams traded baskets and with 10 seconds left and Storm behind by two, Allin had possession and a chance to either tie with a two-point shot or win the game with a three-point effort.

Moreton screened for Allin whose pull-up jump-shot just hit the front of the rim and agonisingly rolled out.