Slam Head to Oregon for Pair of Games this Weekend
Published on May 2, 2013 under International Basketball League (IBL)
Bellingham Slam News Release
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -The Bellingham Slam will be tested this weekend as they head south for a pair of International Basketball League road games in Oregon against the Portland Chinooks and Salem Sabres.
Friday's game against Portland will be a re-match of the 2012 IBL Championship game, which the Slam won 142-109.
The tilt with the Chinooks should be a good one as both rosters feature a number of players who competed against each other for last season's title. Portland is being led by the frontcourt tandem of Jared Cunningham and Kevin Ford, who combined for 55 points and 27 rebounds in their first game of the season last weekend, a 138-120 loss to the Vancouver Volcanoes. With both teams utilizing an up-tempo style even by IBL standards, Friday's match-up should be an offensive showcase.
Saturday, the Slam will head further south to Salem to challenge the Sabres, a new team that will be playing its first game as a member of the IBL. As such, their roster will be a bit of an unknown for the Slam, though one Salem player who is sure to pose a challenge is 6-foot-7, 295 pound center Joe Burton, who is coming off his senior season at Oregon State. Burton's presence should provide for an interesting match-up against the Slam's all-star center in Blake Poole.
The Slam will be looking to post their first road wins of the season on this trip after losing on the road to the Volcanoes on April 21, 94-86. While Bellingham had a disappointing showing on offense that night, the team was able to get back on track last weekend as they routed the Kitsap Admirals, 166-117, nearly doubling their point total from the previous game.
Bellingham is currently being led by veteran guard Jacob Stevenson, who has started his eighth season with the team very well, averaging 23 points per game. Center Blake Poole, who rejoined the team last weekend, has picked up right where he left off in 2012, posting totals of 28 points and 18 rebounds. In addition, rookie guard Rico Wilkins shook off a slow start to put up 26 points in the Slam's win over Kitsap and is now averaging 13.7 points per game.
Friday's game will take place at Eastmoreland Courts in Portland while Saturday's contest is set for Chemeketa Community College in Salem. Tip-off for both games is 7 p.m.
Following the two-game road swing, the Slam will return to Bellingham on Friday, May 10 to host the Japan Tornadoes. A 7 p.m. tip-off is scheduled at Whatcom Pavilion.
International Basketball League Stories from May 2, 2013
- Slam Head to Oregon for Pair of Games this Weekend - Bellingham Slam
- What's New with the IBL - IBL
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