Slam Face Early Test with Three Games this Weekend
April 28, 2011 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Bellingham Slam News Release
BELLINGHAM, Wash.- The Bellingham Slam will be busy this weekend as they face an early season test with a trio of International Basketball League games in three days.
The Slam, who have started out the season 2-0 following wins in the past two weekends, will face the Vancouver Volcanoes in a home-and-home series Friday and Saturday nights, before wrapping up the weekend's action with a road game in Portlandon Sunday afternoon.
The Slam-Volcanoes series over previous seasons has been a "tale of two cities" of sorts for both clubs. Since 2008, the Slam are 3-0 against the Volcanoes in Bellingham with an average margin of victory of 32 points, while at the Volcanoes' home court in Vancouver the Slam is 1-3 overall, with the last three games being decided by three points or fewer.
Friday's game will be the first action of the season for Vancouver, which comes into the 2011 season with a bolstered roster that is expected to content for the IBL championship. The team returns its top two scorers from the 2010 season, guard Andre Murray and forward Devin Uskoski, who combined to average over 43 points per game. Last season them helped lead the Volcanoes to the IBL's National Conference final, where they lost to the eventual-champion Albany Legends. Also added to the mix is forward Lawrence Blackledge, who was a key player for the B.C. Titans last season.
Through the first two games, the Slam have been receiving solid backcourt play from guards Morris Anderson, Paul Hafford and Jacob Stevenson. With an average of over ten assists a game, Andersonhas been frequently dishing the ball to Hafford and Stevenson who have combined to average 44 points through the first two games.
In the frontcourt, rookie center Blake Poole has been dominating the boards with 10.5 rebounds per game while veteran forward Lukas Henne was a key factor in last weekend's 122-99 win over Olympiawith 17 points and nine
Friday's game at Whatcom Pavilion is also Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Night. The game will be played in honor of Craig Vaughn, the father of dance team member Lisa Vaughn, who passed away last year after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Fans are encouraged to wear purple to help raise awareness towards pancreatic cancer and the Slam will be donating $1 from every ticket sold to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, which works to advance research, support patients and create hope for those affected by pancreatic cancer.
The Slam won't get much rest following Friday's game as they have to immediately head to Vancouverfor a re-match with the Volcanoes on Saturday at ClarkCollege.
Following Saturday's contest, the Slam will stay in the area to face the Portland All-Stars on Sunday afternoon, with a 1 p.m.start scheduled for CascadeCollege.
After this weekend's action, the Slam return home to face the West Coast Hotshots on May 6 at LyndenHigh Schooland then will play the Olympia Reign on May 7 at Whatcom Pavilion. Both games will tip-off at 7 p.m.
For more information, contact the Slam at (360) 734-SLAM or visit their website at www.bellinghamslam.com.Slam face early test with three games this weekend.
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International Basketball League Stories from April 28, 2011
- Slam Face Early Test with Three Games this Weekend - Bellingham Slam
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