Slam's Season Ends with Conference Final Loss to Los Angeles, 132-121
Published on July 3, 2009 under International Basketball League (IBL)
Bellingham Slam News Release
MONROE, Wash. - The Bellingham Slam couldn't ride a hot start as they were outlasted by the Los Angeles Lightning, 132-121, in the International Basketball League American Conference Final on Friday at the Monroe Sports Arena. The loss ends the Slam's season with a 17-5 record.
Bellingham opened the game with near-perfect shooting and quickly built up a 15-point lead, at 26-11, six minutes into the game. Los Angeles was able to come back in the second half of the first quarter, and trimmed the Slam's advantage at the end of the frame to seven, at 38-31.
The Slam were able to maintain a double-digit lead for much of the second quarter, before the Lightning closed out the half by scoring 13 of the last 16 points to trail by four at halftime, at 62-58.
Key Slam players, including Tyler Amaya and Jacob Stevenson, ran into foul trouble in the second half, hampering their efforts to hold onto the lead. A bucket by Trayvon Lathan at the 6:09 mark gave Los Angeles their first lead since the game's opening moments, at 73-71. The Lightning closed the third quarter with a 15-7 run to extend their lead to ten, at 90-80, going into the final period. The Slam managed just 18 points in the third quarter.
A technical free throw by Tyler Amaya to start the fourth quarter would prove to be the only time the Slam would get the Lightning's lead under ten points. Bellingham was able to get their offense going again, but were unable to get the defensive stops necessary to chip into the Lightning's lead. Los Angeles maxed out their advantage at 19, at 121-102, before Bellingham was able to score 16 points in the finals two minutes. But solid free throw shooting by the Lightning prevented the Slam from seriously challenging the outcome.
Ryan Diggs and Paul Hafford combined to score 58 points, 30 and 28 respectively, to lead Bellingham. Amaya and Lukas Henne both contributed double-double, Amaya's with 18 points and 14 rebounds and Henne's with 12 points and rebounds each.
Los Angeles was led by Darrick Martin, who scored 28 points thanks to 13-for-18 shooting from three-throw line. Lamond Murray added 20 points, while Fred Vinson tallied 18.
With the victory, Los Angeles advances to the IBL championship game on July 18, against the winner of Friday's other conference final featuring the Snohomish County Explosion and Oregon Waves.
For more information, contact the Bellingham Slam at (360) 734-SLAM or visit their website at www.bellinghamslam.com.
International Basketball League Stories from July 3, 2009
- Slam's Season Ends with Conference Final Loss to Los Angeles, 132-121 - Bellingham Slam
- Devon Greene Set Playoff IBL Scoring Record with 52 points - Snohomish County Explosion
- Explosion play David - Snohomish County Explosion
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