Slam Welcome Kitsap Admirals on Friday
Published on April 25, 2013 under International Basketball League (IBL)
Bellingham Slam News Release
VANCOUVER, Wash. -The Bellingham Slam will back in action on Friday as they welcome the Kitsap Admirals to town for their first game in the International Basketball League. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Whatcom Pavilion.
The Slam is coming off a split in a season-opening home-and-home series with the Vancouver Volcanoes last weekend. The Slam prevailed in their home opener in Bellingham last Friday, 116-92, thanks to a mid-fourth quarter run that broke open a close game. In Vancouver on Sunday, the Slam was the victim of a late run as the Volcanoes outscored Bellingham 12-4 after being tied with four minutes left to lose 94-86.
Sunday's offensive struggles were uncharacteristic for a team that averaged 131 points per game during the 2012 season. The Slam will hope to remedy their scoring woes on Friday as they welcome two veterans back to the roster - center Blake Poole and guard Derrick Webb.
Poole returns as the IBL's leading rebounder last season at 13.4 boards per game and his scoring numbers were nearly as prolific at 18.8 points per game, which ranked third-best on the Slam.
Webb will be back in a Slam uniform for the first time since the 2011 season, when he averaged 10 points per game and was one of the team's best three-point shooters, connecting on 41 percent of his outside shots. Webb will likely be relied upon to provide depth at the guard position and help fill the void created by the departure of former Slam guard Paul Hafford.
The Kitsap Admirals, based in Bremerton, will come into Friday's game as a bit of an unknown to the Slam, as they are competing in their first game as a new team to the IBL this season. Their roster does feature one familiar face - center Dontay Harris - a Tacoma native who has played numerous games against the Slam as an opponent dating back to the Slam's time as a member of the American Basketball Association in 2005. Now in his seventh IBL season, Harris ranks third on the IBL's all-time scoring list with 2,079 points.
Friday's game will be another Five Dollar Friday night, which offers discounted $5 general admission tickets to students with a valid ASB or college ID card. Regular ticket prices are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for children.
Following Friday's game, the Slam head on the road for a pair of games in Portland and Salem on May 3 and 4 before returning home to face the Japan Tornadoes on May 10 at Whatcom Pavilion.
International Basketball League Stories from April 25, 2013
- What's New with the IBL this Week - Jersey G-Force
- Slam Welcome Kitsap Admirals on Friday - Bellingham Slam
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