Slam Looking to Make History at IBL Playoffs
Published on July 3, 2013 under International Basketball League (IBL)
Bellingham Slam News Release
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - If the Bellingham Slam is to repeat as International Basketball League champions this week, the team will be making league history on at least two fronts.
Since the IBL first tipped off in 2005, the home team in the championship game has never failed to win the title. The Slam has been beneficiaries of this statistic twice, capturing championships in 2008 and 2012 on their home court of Whatcom Pavilion.
The 2013 IBL Playoffs are being hosted by the Portland Chinooks at their home facility of Eastmoreland Court, which conventional wisdom would say makes the Chinooks the odds-on favorite. However, if the Slam were to prevail, not only would they be the first team to win an IBL championship on the road, but they would also become the first franchise in league history to win three different titles.
Led by head coach Rob Ridnour, Bellingham has found success this season from unparalleled team play, more so than any year in the past. Remarkably, nine of the ten players on the team's postseason roster are scoring in double figures, led by veteran guard Jacob Stevenson and center Blake Poole, averaging 23 and 20 points per game, respectively. Add in other contributions - Poole leads the team in rebounding with 13 a game while Stevenson is tops in blocked shots - and the combo has given the Slam a 1-2 punch with each athlete worthy of the league's Most Valuable Player award in their own right.
In a backcourt dominated by former Western Washington University standouts, rookie guard Rico Wilkins has shown himself to be a capable contributor at the professional level just a year removed from helping the Vikings capture a national championship. Wilkins is averaging 16 points per game and his frenetic style of play has fit right in to the Slam's up-tempo offense. He finished the regular season as one of the team's top three-point shooters and his 34 points in a win over Salem on May 24 tied for the best individual effort by a Slam player this season.
Starting point guard Morris Anderson continues to impress in his fourth season, allowing his unselfish play to better the team while sacrificing some offensive production. He once again led the team in assists with nearly 7 per game while still averaging 12 points. Also averaging double figures in scoring at the guard position are Drew Ready and Derrick Webb, both with 14 per game.
Complementing Poole's presence in the post is center Evan Matteson, who enjoyed a strong showing in his first full season with the team. After suiting up for just three games in 2012, Matteson returned in 2013 to post averages of 16 points and 8 rebounds, and also proved to be one of the Slam's most accurate three-point shooters. He showed off that outside scoring ability with a buzzer-beating three-pointer in a 106-104 win on May 27 against the Chinooks.
Another important contributor has been forward Chas Kok, who, in his second season with the team has seen his offensive production more than double to 15 points per game. The Lynden native enjoyed a strong start to the 2013 season and tied with Wilkins for the best individual scoring night this year, with 34 points in a big win over the Japan Tornadoes on May 10.
With a 16-2 regular season record and multiple wins against each tournament opponent, the Slam will likely be a confident bunch heading into their first postseason game. As the top playoff seed, Bellingham will advance directly to the semi-final round for a game on Thursday against either the Salem Sabres or Japan Tornadoes, who will play on Wednesday in the tournament's opening round game. Thursday's semi-final match will tip-off at 5 p.m. at Eastmoreland Court, and will be broadcast live on KGMI 790 AM and online at www.kgmi.com. A live video stream will also be available at www.ibltv.com.
If the Slam is victorious on Thursday, they will advance to the IBL Championship game on Friday against either the Vancouver Volcanoes or Portland Chinooks, who will compete in Thursday's other semi-final contest. Tip-off for the championship game is set for 7 p.m.
For more information, contact the Slam at (360) 734-SLAM or visit their website at www.bellinghamslam.com.
International Basketball League Stories from July 3, 2013
- IBL Player of the Week - Chehales Tapscott - IBL
- Slam Looking to Make History at IBL Playoffs - 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.
