Slam Blow Past Chinooks, 133-103
Published on May 31, 2011 under International Basketball League (IBL)
Bellingham Slam News Release
BELLINGHAM, Wash.-Guards Ira Graham and Morris Anderson combined to score 63 points as the Bellingham Slam defeated the Portland Chinooks, 133-103, in an International Basketball League game at Whatcom Pavilion on Monday.
The game capped off a great weekend for Graham, who also scored 29 points in a win over Vancouveron Friday. With his recent offensive explosion, Graham has scored nearly as many points in the last two games as he had in the Slam's first 12 games of the season.
Despite suiting up just seven players, the Chinooks hung with the Slam for much of the first half. A switch to a zone defense in the in the middle stages of the second quarter helped spark a 12-0 run that erased a ten-point deficit and gave Portland a 41-39 lead. But consecutive three-pointers by Andersonlate in the quarter helped the Slam go back up by 11 at halftime, at 62-51.
The Chinooks refused to go away in the third quarter, playing nearly even with the Slam to put the score at 98-88 going into the final frame.
In the fourth, Bellingham's defense went to work to and shut down Portland, holding them to just four field goals and 15 points in the quarter. In a three-minute span late in the game, the Slam put together a 15-1 run that broke the game wide open.
Graham led the Slam with 37 points, while Andersonfinished with 26. Lukas Henne also had a solid game with 21 points. In addition to his scoring output, Graham racked up six assists and a career-high five steals.
Mac Hopson did the bulk of the of the work for Portland, scoring 44 points and posting 14 rebounds.
The Slam have one more home game before heading out on the road, as they welcome the Vancouver Volcanoes to Whatcom Pavilion on Friday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
International Basketball League Stories from May 31, 2011
- Slam Blow Past Chinooks, 133-103 - Bellingham Slam
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
