Slam fall in regular season finale, 112-106 to Tacoma
Published on June 23, 2008 under International Basketball League (IBL)
Bellingham Slam News Release
TACOMA, Wash. - The Bellingham Slam closed out their regular season with a disappointing 112-106 loss to the Tacoma Jazz in International Basketball League action at Mount Tahoma High School on Sunday.
The game started out in the Slam's favor, with Bellingham holding the Jazz to just five points in the first six minutes en route to a 23-17 lead after the first quarter.
But unlike Saturday's game against the Jazz, the Slam were unable to extend their lead very far as they struggled to get their offense going. After building a 46-31 lead halfway through the second, the Jazz closed out the quarter with a 25-8 run to take a 56-54 lead going into halftime.
After fighting through an even third quarter, the two teams went into the fourth quarter deadlocked at 79-79, and the Slam were able to gain the early advantage on back-to-back baskets by Tyler Amaya to put them up 90-85 with 9:13 to play. But the Slam were unable to pull away as Tacoma was able to hit several key buckets in the middle stages of the quarter and were able to tie the game several times, and eventually took a 95-93 lead with 6:08 left to play on a Jameel Shareef lay-in.
But the Slam would be unable to re-take the lead, despite a Brian Dennis dunk that immediately followed Shareef's go-ahead score and tied the game at 95-95. The Jazz rushed out to a seven-point lead in the next few minutes before the Slam were again able to come back and tie the game, at 106-all, on an Amaya free throw with 1:39 left. But that would prove to be the last point for Bellingham on the night, as Tacoma used free throws to put them up three with 15 seconds left. The Slam did have a chance to tie in the dying seconds, but a Paul Hafford three-point attempt from the corner wouldn't go.
Hafford finished the game as the Slam's leading scorer with 24 points to go along with nine rebounds. Lukas Henne finished with another double-double with 21 points and 11 boards.
Dontay Harris led six Tacoma players in double figures with 27 points, and was also the game's top rebounder, pulling down 15. The Jazz out-hustled the Slam all night on the boards, finishing with 83-53 advantage on the glass.
The Slam finished the regular season with a 16-4 record and have already clinched the best record in the IBL's Western Conference, giving them the top seed in the conference playoff tournament beginning next Friday in Monroe. The time and opponent for the Slam's first playoff game will be announced later this week.
For more information, contact the Slam at (360) 734-SLAM or visit their website at www.bellinghamslam.com.
International Basketball League Stories from June 23, 2008
- Snohomish County hosts first ever playoff - Snohomish County Explosion
- Phil Givens explodes for 57 points in regular-season finale - Los Angeles Lightning
- Slam fall in regular season finale, 112-106 to Tacoma - Bellingham Slam
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