Slam beaten at buzzer by Montreal, 124-123 in overtime
February 11, 2007 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Bellingham Slam News Release
MONTREAL - The Bellingham Slam rallied to force overtime, then were beaten at the buzzer in the extra session as they lost to the Montreal Royal, 124-123, in a frenetic American Basketball Association game Sunday afternoon at the Centre Pierre-Charbonneau in Montreal.
The contest marked the first overtime game for the Slam in their franchise history.
After spotting Montreal an eight point lead five minutes into the game, the Slam came to life with a 25-8 run to finish the first quarter with a 35-26 lead.
The Royal were able to come back in the second quarter, as they held the Slam to just 15 points in the quarter to take a 57-50 lead into halftime.
In the second half, the Slam chipped away at their deficit and finally recaptured the lead, at 82-80, on a Jacob Stevenson put-back with 47 seconds left in the quarter. The Slam headed into the fourth quarter with a slim 86-86 lead.
In the fourth quarter, the Slam appeared to take control of the game, extending their lead to ten in the early stages, before the Royal began to chip away at the margin and eventually took the lead, at 107-106, with 2:05 to play. The two teams traded baskets for the next 90 seconds before it appeared Montreal had sealed the win when Bobby Miller was fouled and converted a three-point play with 40 seconds to go.
But after Brandon Hartley missed a potential tying three-pointer with 20 seconds left, the Slam were able to steal the ball in the backcourt, and, under the ABA's 3-D Rule, make its next possession worth one additional point or awards one additional free throw if a player is fouled. With 14 seconds left, Stevenson was fouled driving the lane and hit all three of his free throws to tie up the game 112-112. On the other end of the court, the Slam forced Miller to miss a would-be winning shot with five seconds left, and actually had a chance to win the game at the buzzer but a hurried, off-balance jumper by Mike Parker bounced off the side of the backboard.
In the overtime session, the Slam fell behind early, at 120-114, with 1:14 left on some clutch shooting by Montreal. But the Slam didn't give up, as they were able to hold Montreal scoreless until the final second. The Slam used a Parker dunk sandwiched between seven free throws to gain a 123-120 lead with 22 seconds left on the clock. With five seconds left, the Royal's Shawn Brown missed a game-tying three-pointer with the Slam controlling the rebound. With Montreal pressuring, the Slam turned the ball over with two seconds left, again invoking the 3-D Rule. Off the in-bounds pass, the Royal were able to find Brown open again from behind the arc, and this time he nailed the shot at the buzzer, good for four points and the win.
The heartbreaking loss sends the Slam home after going 0-3 on their east coast road swing. The Slam look to turn things around as they continue on the road next weekend in California against the Big Valley Shockwave.
Bellingham was led by Jacob Stevenson's double-double of 33 points and 11 rebounds. Mike Parker added 24 points and Brian Dennis also recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 boards.
Bobby Miller led five Montreal players in double figures with 27 points.
For more information, call the Slam at (360) 734-SLAM or visit their website at www.bellinghamslam.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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