"Battle of the Bridge 4" Goes to Vancouver
Published on June 9, 2014 under International Basketball League (IBL)
Portland Chinooks News Release
VANCOUVER - The Volcanoes hit the gas pedal early and often and had more fuel in the tank on Sunday evening at the O'Connell Sports Center at Clark College, outlasting the Portland Chinooks, 122-115. The win evens up the five-game series known as "Battle of the Bridge" and drops Portland into third place in the IBL.
The Volcanoes rushed out to a 22-9 lead in the opening 7:30. Jared Cunningham was about the only thing going right for Portland with seven points early. The lead reached a high of eighteen (53-35) midway through the second period before the Chinooks cut it down to 57-52 on a 17-4 spurt in a flash. The home team responded 8-0 to end the half and take a thirteen-point lead into the break.
Portland had a better start to the second half, cutting the deficit to seven in the first 4:30 and eventually to as few as four before Vancouver closed out the third period ahead by eleven. It was still an 11-point Ford vs. Morris jump ball lead at the midway point of the final quarter. The Chinooks once again rallied to get within six with just over two minutes to play, but they couldn't get over the hump, falling by seven.
Portland's record sits at 7-4, having lost two games in a row for the first time this season. They went into the game in second place, a half-game ahead of Vancouver. Now they sit in third place, a half-game back of the 8-4 Volcanoes, who have won two straight after losing four of their previous five. Jared Cunningham (6'9" F Cleveland State) led the way with 31 points and nine rebounds. Portland welcomed back Kevin Ford (6'9" F Oral Roberts), who picked up right where he left off a year ago. The big fella crashed the glass and slammed it down with authority on his way to 21 points and 16 rebounds. Steffen Harvey flirted with a triple-double (14 points, nine assists, eight rebounds). Portland was without their second leading scorer, Germain Jordan due to injury.
The league's leading scorer, Andre Murray kept it coming for Vancouver with a game-high 36 points.
Next on the June schedule is the fourth match-up of the season with Salem this Tuesday the 10th, 7:00pm at Eastmoreland as the Chinooks look for revenge after being upset last week at home. The Olympia Reign come to town for a game on Friday, June 13th at 7pm. We invite you to cheer on your home team to victory at Eastmoreland Courts (3015 SE Berkeley Place). Tickets for all games are available at the door. You can watch the action live or on-demand with Jeremy Scott on the call at IBL.com/video.php or YouTube.com/IBLHoops.
International Basketball League Stories from June 9, 2014
- "Battle of the Bridge 4" Goes to Vancouver - Portland Chinooks
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