Rebels Battle the Storm
The Essex Rebels Division 1 men took on the Hemel Storm in the first game of the Preseason Kit King trophy. The clash saw the new faces on both sides and the crowd were eager to see the teams battle it out.
The Rebels stepped onto the court with a hint of uncertainty, struggling to find their rhythm in the early minutes. The Hemel Storm capitalized on this slow start, building a small lead. However, when things seemed bleak, Coach Norfolk called a strategic time-out. It proved to be the spark the Rebels needed. They rallied and managed to eke out a 3-point lead by the end of the quarter.
As the 2nd quarter began, the Rebels found themselves facing a determined Hemel, who were keen to regain control of the game. The Rebels seemed to have lost their way, unable to halt Hemel’s advances. By halftime, Hemel had built a 7-point lead, leaving the Rebels with some catching up to do.
After the half time break, the Rebels emerged from the locker room with renewed purpose. While they couldn’t string together a substantial scoring run, their determination was evident. Then with a click of a switch Hemel began to push on with their offensive flow. Rebels were unable to get stops and some silly turnovers at crucial times allowed the Storm to take a daunting 17 point lead.
The stage was set for a dramatic final quarter. The new look Rebels, with the odds stacked against them, pushed hard to complete their comeback. Essex were able to build some momentum and showed great character to fight back into this game. The Rebels were able to bring it with 7 points with 3 minutes to go, However, time was not on their side. Hemel managed to withstand the relentless Rebels’ assault and secured victory with a 11-point win.
Trey Chapman emerged as the top scorer for the Rebels, pouring in an impressive 23 points. Victor Olarerin also contributed significantly with 19 points and Luke Busumbru pitched in with 17 points.
Despite the final score not in their favour, Coach Norfolk remained optimistic. He expressed his disappointment but also highlighted the positives. The new-look Rebels demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination, qualities that bode well for the upcoming season. Coach Norfolk eagerly anticipates the season opener at the Essex Sport Arena on October 7th, with confidence in his team’s potential.
The Rebels take on Thames Valley Cavaliers in the 2nd game of the Kit King trophy this Saturday at 4pm in the Essex Sport Arena.
