The Division One big guns both won on the road, beating Reading Rockets and Derby Trailblazers in their respective semi-finals at the weekend to claim their places in December's final.
Hemel got the job done on Saturday, putting the brakes on Reading's bright start to the season with a 100-69 victory that owed much to Hakeem Sylla's game-high 26 points and Taylor Johnson's 22.
Troy Cracknell had a 16-point 13-rebound contribution to Reading's losing effort.
Derby fall short to @worthing.thunder.basketball in the @d1trophy - knocking us out at the semi final stage! pic.twitter.com/YtMdGGSvKv
— Derby Trailblazers (@derbyblazers) October 9, 2022
Reigning champs Derby - winners of the then L Lynch Trophy last year - fell short of a final return, defeated by the much-fancied Worthing.
Thunder held a two-point advantage after a competitive first half but pulled away dramatically in the third and even more so in the fourth to claim their final spot.
Former Solent guard Andre Arissol led the scoring with 25 off the back of 5-8 three-point shooting, while Hafeez Abdul had 19-10 double-double and Orlan Jackman and Veron Eze chipped in 10 apiece.
Jonas Dieterich had 21 for Derby with Raheem May-Thompson and Malcom Smith hitting 20 each.
Reading Rockets 69-100 Hemel Storm LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM
Derby Trailblazers 87-96 Worthing Thunder LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM
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Main image credit - Joanne Charles
