Navigators debut with big win over Blackhawks

November 20, 2005 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Tacoma Navigators News Release


(TACOMA, WA)-The expansion Tacoma Navigators professional basketball team got a 28-point first half performance from guard Rashaad Powell and cruised to a 139-101 victory over the defending ABA Western Conference Champion Bellevue Blackhawks Saturday night in front of a near-capacity and very appreciative crowd at Mt. Tahoma High School. Powell, a former Renton High School star who played for Bellevue last season, finished with 33 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for head coach and former Sonics guard Vincent Askew's high-powered offense.

Former Rainier Beach High School stars and brothers, Roselle and Tim Ellis, combined for 44 points and 19 rebounds for the Blackhawks, while Jim Rainwater led Bellevue in scoring with 26. The game featured eight former and present Bellevue players, including Lucious Brown, Jajuan Winesberry, Rashaad Powell and Greg Hendricks for Tacoma, and Ardess Ballard, the Ellis brothers, Jimmie Haywood and Rainwater for the Blackhawks.

Bellevue travels 90 miles north to Bellingham, WA for a Tuesday 11/22 matchup in the home opener for the Slam, then Bellevue and Tacoma go at it again on Wednesday 11/23 in the Blackhawks home opener at the Meydenbauer Convention Center. The game will feature an appearance by Washington Attorney General and Bellevue resident, Rob McKenna, who will suit up and play for his hometown team in the ABA's famed "11th Man" program.

For more information or to order tickets online, please visit our websites at www.TacomaNavigators.com and www.Blackhawkshoops.com or www.abalive.com.

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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