It is only a two game sampling size but the year over year improvement for the GSBA (Greater Sudbury Basketball Association) U15 Storm boys is observable, at least to some extent, in 2024-2025.

Participating in their first two OBL (Ontario Basketball League) encounters of the new year, the Storm unleashed notably better results against adversaries they had faced in similar action last year.

Opening against the Owen Sound Bayhawks, a team that got the better of the northern crew in a close battle in 2024, the Sudbury lads built up a 28-21 lead at the half and then stepped on the gas in the final two quarters, posting a 57-35 victory.

Seemingly on route to becoming a second half team, the U15 Storm faced the York South Silver Knights in game today, comfortably ahead at the half (34-20) but running away with things by the time the final buzzer sounded (65-33).

"The boys are really coming together," noted head coach Michelle Flood, with former assistant coach (and member of the bSudbury Five) Haroun Mohamed currently pursuing professional basketball opportunities in China.

"They played as a team, they trusted one another, they picked each other up and they supported one another," she added.

"And the players on the bench kept the energy up."

The team will resume OBL play at the end of the month, with the 2024-2025 roster as follows: Rylan Donnelly, Noah MacIntyre, Kane Flood, Jesse Betu, Eden Yedess, Bently Szwed, Josh Paradis, Will Laporte-Alexander, Jean-Ethan Adou, Colton Sartor, Richard Owolabi and Skyler Laplante.