Game of the Week: Leicester Warriors v Hemel Storm
28th October 2011Our Game of the Week this week is the National Cup third round fixture between Leicester Warriors and Hemel Storm on Sunday afternoon.
Hemel come into the game unbeaten in sevon fixtures this season, having finished top of Pool 2 in the Patrons Cup and having seen off Ipswich Tomcats and Birmingham Mets in the earlier rounds of the Cup.
The club was formed last season from the embers of Edmonton Storm, bringing National League basketball back to Hemel after a gap of 14 years. The original Hemel club enjoyed lots of success in the 80's prior to transforming into the BBL's MK Lions.
Storm's Head Coach and Director of Coaching, Dave Titmuss, was one of the original club's founders in 1977 and is thrilled with how the new club has begun life: "The response has been terrific, many people who used to support us back in the day have spoken to me about how pleased they are to see a team back in the town, and we've been able to attract a whole new generation too."
Chairman Neil McElduff commented: "In terms of senior competition, we have set out to be in Division 1 within three years, and we've also this season established 'development of excellence' programmes at U16 and U18 levels.
"Coaching is undoubtedly our biggest asset under the guidance of Coach Titmuss who brings considerable international experience to Storm, and his teams have won sixteen national titles in the domestic game.
"We aim to grow every aspect of the club including local community and schools involvement, elite and participation youth programmes, commercial partnerships, and provide great sporting entertainment for the local community."
Leicester Warriors started the 2011/12 season in good fashion with two wins in National Trophy play and a victory over Wellingborough Phoenix in the 2nd round of the Cup, but their two most recent results were heavy defeats to Worthing (86-54) and Bristol (75-50).
Titmuss is wary of putting too much importance on those recent results: "I don't think their results to date mean anything in terms of the problems they'll pose us, and Coach Brown will improve their execution as the season progresses.
"Right now they have the physical talent right across their roster to cause us problems, but I think that if we have our full team available and continue to play the way we've been doing, then we can win.
"We're under no illusions about the physical challenge that we face so we must neutralise this with fundamental play - especially in terms of preventing second shots - and disrupting what they want to do on offence both as individuals and a team."
Warriors assistant coach Roger Payne has spent time previously with Hemel and he is looking forward to the game: "I know Hemel will be well prepared as they have some great players and probably the most experienced coaching staff in any division. Coach Titmuss, along with Tony Harrison, will have the guys focused and ready to play.
"I expect Hemel to do a lot of damage in Division 2 this this year with the deep roster they have, and there is no reason why they should not be playing Division 1 next year. As for myself and Karl, we are preparing our guys for a battle. Each game is a learning process for this young team, but we will be ready.
"The team that runs their game plan and executes will win this game, and hopefully that will be Warriors."