Anderson, Slam Cruise to Season-Opening Win Over Hotshots
April 16, 2011 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Bellingham Slam News Release
BELLINGHAM, Wash.- The Bellingham Slam, led by a record-setting performance by guard Morris Anderson, opened the 2011 International Basketball League season with a 130-104 victory over the West Coast Hotshots on Friday at Whatcom Pavilion.
Andersonfinished the game with 15 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds. His 15 assists bested the previous team record of 14 set by Ryan Diggs in 2008.
But the hottest hand belonged to Paul Hafford, who led both teams with 22 points on 6-of-8 shooting from three-point range. Andersonprovided assists on four of those outside shots.
Strong outside shooting quickly became a theme for the evening, as the Slam used a trio of three-point shots to build a 21-8 lead after the first six minutes. The Hotshots trimmed the lead to six by the end of the first quarter, at 33-27.
The Hotshots hung around for much of the second quarter, trailing by eight, at 51-43, with four minutes left, before Bellingham extended their lead back to double digits to lead 65-52 at halftime.
Bellinghamused an 11-0 run in the early stages of the third quarter to extend the lead to 23 points, at 79-56, and put the Hotshots away.
It was more of the same in the fourth quarter, as the Slam continued their dominance by running up the lead to 35, at 124-89, on back-to-back treys by Hafford midway through the frame, before coach Rob Ridnour emptied his bench to close out the game.
The Slam won the game going away despite getting crushed on the boards by a 76-45 margin. Bellinghammitigated the poor night on the glass by holding the Hotshots to 37 percent shooting from the floor.
Hafford was one of seven Slam players to score in double figures with 22 points. Blake Poole posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds in his professional debut for Bellingham.
Rashaad Powell led the Hotshots with 21 points, while Brandon Adams and Terry Thompson added 14 and 13, respectively.
The Slam continue their early-season homestand with a match-up against the Olympia Reign on April 23. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.at Whatcom Pavilion.
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- Anderson, Slam Cruise to Season-Opening Win Over Hotshots - Bellingham Slam
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