Slam Clinch Top Playoff Seed with 139-118 Win in Mount Vernon
Published on June 20, 2014 under International Basketball League (IBL)
Bellingham Slam News Release
MOUNT VERNON, Wash. "" The Bellingham Slam once again used a strong second half as they pulled away from the Seattle Flight to win, 139-118, in International Basketball League action at the DuVall Pavilion on Friday.
The win extends the Slam win streak to 12 and with a 13-2 record has clinched the top seed at next weekend's IBL playoff tournament in Vancouver, Wash.
Despite suiting just six players, the Flight had no problem competing with the Slam for large stretches of the game. A last-second three pointer by Seattle guard Dwayne Wright trimmed their deficit to five as the Slam led at halftime, 61-56.
Bellingham, perhaps due to playing in unfamiliar environs at Skagit Valley College, still had trouble offensively into the third quarter. A 10-3 run by Seattle gave them a three-point lead, at 72-69 with 6:17 left in the period. But the Slam regrouped, and thanks in part to 10 late quarter points from guard Jacob Stevenson, were able to rebound and carry a 100-85 lead into the fourth quarter.
Hot three point shooting from the Slam in the fourth helped preserve the double-digit lead and allowed the home side to coast to another win.
Guard Rico Wilkins paced the Slam with 27 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three-point range, while guard Sam Freeman had a fine evening with 22 points. Former Slam center Kyle Dalvit returned to the team to fill in for Blake Poole, who is resting this weekend in advance of the playoffs, and added a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Dwayne Wright led Seattle with 28 points, one of four Flight players to post at least 20.
With the number one playoff position locked down, the Slam return to their usual home venue of Whatcom Pavilion to wrap up the regular season on Sunday against the Vancouver Volcanoes at 5 p.m.
For more information, contact the Slam at (360) 734-SLAM or visit their website at www.bellinghamslam.com.
International Basketball League Stories from June 20, 2014
- IBL Results - IBL
- Slam Clinch Top Playoff Seed with 139-118 Win in Mount Vernon - Bellingham Slam
- Bellingham Slam Holds on to First Place Going into Final Weekend - IBL
- IBL Results - IBL
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