Bellingham returns home to grab first win
November 23, 2005 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Bellingham Slam News Release
After a frustrating weekend that saw the Bellingham Slam lose its first three ABA games, the team finally grabbed its first victory in its home opener. The Slam beat the Bellevue Blackhawks 125-114 in front of an excited crowd at the Whatcom Community College Pavilion on Tuesday night. "It feels good to get that first win," Bellingham coach Rob Ridnour said. "But we still need to get better." Caleb Gervin scored a team high 32 points, and four other players scored in double figures.
The Slam never trailed in the game, but Ridnour saw areas for his team to improve. "We need to be able to transition on defense better," Ridnour said, "and we still need to be better at decision making on the offensive side of the ball." The Slam opened the game with a 26-9 run, and by halftime it was sitting on a comfortable 76-56 lead, but in the second half things began to change. The Blackhawks pulled within two points twice in the fourth quarter, including once with only 4:39 left in the game, but Bellingham pulled away again with 14 points in the final four minutes to end the game.
Gervin attributed the win to strong teamwork. "Sometimes you get down, but you've got to focus and stay together as a team," he said. "We had a long weekend, and we're still getting to know each other, but we're a good team." Gervin had 32 points and added four assists and four steals. At one point he brought the crowd to its feet when he stole the ball from an opposing player's hands and then capped it with a beautiful lay-in.
The Slam scored 13 3-point baskets, converted 19-second chance points and had 25 points from its bench. Kevin Woodberry scored 20 points, Mike Bush added 15, Craig Rosendaal had 14, and the Brian Dennis finished with 12 despite leaving at one point with a hand injury. The Slam next travel to Tacoma on Saturday. "We've got a lot to work on, and we had to grind this one out," Ridnour said. "But a win is a win and we'll take it."
Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.
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