25/10/10 - An injury-hit and illness blighted Hemel Storm returned from Sheffield on Saturday with a backs-to-the-wall 68 - 56 National League victory.

The Storm were without key players Jamie Ashwin and James Chute through injury, and their leading scorer Richard Wellings who was unable to train all week because of 'flu, started the game but was unable to continue after six minutes.

The Storm's five of Bobby Edmunds, Fred Stephens, Mark Quashie, Joe Matthews and Wellings got off to the worse possible start and could not contain Arrows' free flowing offence and aggressive rebounding. Storm quickly fell 16 - 5 behind and although a time-out by Head Coach Tony Harrison helped to steady Hemel a little, they struggled to find their offensive rhythm.

Although Storm were misfiring offensively their defensive pressure, which was ignited by guards Edmunds and Stephens, kept them in touch and they gradually chipped away at Arrows' lead. The home team was forced into making passing mistakes and the Storm were able to capitalise on the extra possessions to get within 5 points (34 - 29) at the half-time break.

The concern for Hemel's coaching staff at the interval was poor offensive execution and the team's low percentage shooting, especially from the free-throw line where they were unable to make Arrows pay for their strategy of committing fouls close to the basket to try and cause maximum disruption. Storm finished the game with a meagre 12 from 27 scored free throws which was their lowest percentage of the season.

A physical battle ensued in the third quarter that kept the officials busy. Both teams tried to step-up their defensive pressure and it was Storm's Stephens who triggered some intelligent defensive play that forced turnovers and helped put his team firmly in control for the first time in the game. Stephens brought energy and focus at the defensive end of the court and epitomised Hemel's belief in building attack from uncompromising defence.  

And things began clicking at the offensive end especially when Kearney, Storm's captain, and their ex-international forward Tom Frederick combined on some clever two-man moves that put points on the board in a remarkable turnaround of fortunes.

Storm outscored their opponents 19 - 10 in the third quarter to go ahead 48 - 44 and during this period Hemel's popular American import, Bobby Edmunds, twice ran in spectacular full-court lay-ups, slicing through Sheffield's defence as if it wasn't there.

With their offence now firing on all cylinders Storm kept the momentum going in the fourth quarter. They used the clock well and capitalised on patient possession to seal a hard-fought and important away win.  

"It's a sign of a good team when you have to overcome adversity, dig deep and find a way to pull out a win. We know we played below par and that we have to work better together if we are to improve, but you could not fault our determination and mental toughness to come away with a victory," said Harrison.

"We turned them over 26 times which was a key to our win especially as we did not rebound or shoot well. We let Sheffield off the hook by missing 15 points from the free-throw line and giving them so many second chances from offensive rebounds."

Storm's team and scorers: Kearney 19, Frederick 18, Matthews 10, Edmunds 9, Quashie 7, Stephens 3, Wilkins 2, Wellings, Miller, Oladele-Hassan.

Storm are away again next Saturday when they take on Birmingham in a National League clash, before returning to their home court at Sportspace, Hemel Hempstead, on Saturday November 6th v Mansfield Giants, tip-off 7pm.