Slam come from behind to defeat Seattle, 115-109
May 9, 2009 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Bellingham Slam News Release
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Tyler Amaya scored 34 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, as the Bellingham Slam rallied to defeat the Seattle Mountaineers in an intense International Basketball League game at Whatcom Pavilion on Friday.
Bellingham (7-2) carried a seven-point lead, 99-92, into the middle stages of the fourth quarter before Donald Watts led a Seattle comeback that saw them take a three-point lead, 102-99, with four minutes left. The Slam responded with a run of their own, capped by an Ira Graham slashing lay-in that gave the lead back to Bellingham, 108-107, with just under a minute left. The Slam padded their lead and secured the victory in the final seconds with solid free throw shooting by Amaya.
The early portions of the game showcased two teams that refused to give an inch. The game featured 15 lead changes and neither team led by more than eight. A solid second quarter gave the Slam a 52-49 lead at halftime.
Amaya's 34 led five Bellingham players in double figures. Graham finished with 24 points while Lukas Henne added 17 points and eight rebounds. The Slam were victorious despite losing the battle of the boards by a 65-38 margin.
Watts led the Mountaineers (4-3) with 30 points and 11 rebounds. Jamaal Miller tallied 20 thanks to a 12-for-12 outing from the free-throw line.
The Slam return to action tomorrow as they take on the Nippon Tornadoes, an IBL team hailing from the Ehime prefecture in Japan. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. at Whatcom Pavilion.
International Basketball League Stories from May 9, 2009
- Slam come from behind to defeat Seattle, 115-109 - Bellingham Slam
- Explosion fall to Portland Waves 141-124 - Snohomish County Explosion
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.
