Thunder deafens Elite in pre-season

Worthing Thunder Head Coach, Brian Deacon, said he was “very pleased” with his side’s 112-86 pre-season victory against London Elite despite Thunder having “no practice”.

Summer signing Elijah Maynard topped Thunder’s scoring with 35-points. Fellow off-season recruit, Malachi Boakye-Yiadom, had the second highest total with 22.

“I was very pleased with what we did,” Deacon said afterwards, “we were very much on the fly.”

“I’m a big believer of it not being about individuals, but the team. We should be a family together. If we play well together, I think we’ll be up there easily. We only lost games by a few points last year. I want to win silverware, that’s why I’m here.”

Thunder suffered a slight scare after their early 11-point lead turned into a four-point deficit. Boakye-Yiadom and Maynard contributed 18 of Thunder’s 28-points in the first period.

A 7-0 run for the away side placed them within uncomfortable proximity of Thunder early in the second. Much of London’s success had the talismanic Kane Daley to thank. Together with former Hemel Storm player Romario Spence, they proved a stiff test of Thunder’s defensive resilience.

Leads of four boomeranged between the two sides before half time, but Thunder shifted into a gear Elite couldn’t. Luke Moore finished a probing move at the basket, and the game’s competitiveness. Josh Palmer typified Thunder’s relentlessness, he added 11-points in the fourth.

Boakye-Yiadom’s acrobatics around the basket thrilled throughout the evening. His best was when he shrugged off Elite’s most vehement defenders on a fast break. He feigned one way, darted another, then flourished with the opposite hand.

“It was my first game as a signed player,” Boakye-Yiadom said. “The Worthing community is very good. The crowd makes you give more.”

The former England junior played for Deacon at Brighton Bears, something which, by his own admission, has markedly helped his transition as he already “knows his philosophy”.

Maynard’s style was slightly slower, more calculating yet equally devastating to the visitors’ defence. The American found rookie Lewis Gleason a particularly enthusiastic provider; Gleason assisted Maynard no fewer than three times throughout the evening.

“I think we executed well on defence towards the end,” Maynard said. “Our energy was… good too today.”

“(We have) pretty good confidence because we know what we’re capable of. Scoring isn’t an issue; our main thing is defence. I think we’ll make some noise this year.”

Gleason, who added 10-points, helped bring the biggest cheer of the evening when he assisted Alfie Price. The 17-year-old calmly put away the layup despite being fouled, then ended the evening with a three-point shot.

“It was absolutely amazing,” Price said, with a grin so bright it could’ve lit up Worthing.

Thunder’s first competitive match takes place at home against Barking Abbey in the Kitking Trophy on Saturday 14 September (19:30 tip-off). Tickets are available to book online or on the door.