Slam's Win Streak Snapped at Salem
Published on June 11, 2012 under International Basketball League (IBL)
Bellingham Slam News Release
SALEM, Ore. - The Bellingham Slam's 11-game win streak came to an end as they fell to the Salem Soldiers, 146-136, in an International Basketball League game at the Salem Hoop on Sunday.
The fast-paced game amounted to a defensive disaster for the Slam, which allowed the most points by an opponent in the team's seven-year history.
The Slam started off flat-footed, allowing the Soldiers to race out to a 22-15 lead midway through the first quarter, before reeling them back in to trail 37-35 at the end of one.
But things got worse for Bellingham in the second quarter, as they allowed Salem to score 44 points and build a 19-point lead after forward Cory Largent closed the half with a bucket to make the score 81-62.
A short 14-6 run in the middle stages of the third quarter brought the Slam to within 12, at 103-91, before the Soldiers rallied to go back up by 17 by the quarter's end, at 115-98.
Sparked by efforts from centers Blake Poole and Evan Matteson and guard Drew Ready, the Slam was able to nudge the deficit down to 11, at 121-110, with 8:45 left, but the Soldiers quickly responded with 13 of the next 15 points to go up by 21 and put the game out of reach.
With the outcome firmly decided, the Slam was able to rattle off the game's final 12 points to make the result appear slightly more respectable.
Paul Hafford led the Slam in scoring for the seventh time this season with 33 points, while Poole and Matteson each finished with double-doubles - Matteson with 25 points and 10 rebounds and Poole with 22 points and a season-high 19 boards.
The Slam fell to 12-2 on the season, with both losses coming at the hands of the Soldiers.
Salem, which improved to 4-8, was paced by the 38 points and 16 boards from IBL leading scorer and rebounder Chehales Tapscott. Jeremiah Dominguez and Phil Nelson combined to hit 10 of the Soldiers' 16 three-pointers and finished with 25 and 15 points, respectively.
The Slam get an extended break before returning home on Saturday, June 23 for a game against the Yamhill Highflyers, with a 7 p.m. tip-off set for Whatcom Pavilion. The game will be broadcast live on KGMI-AM 790 and online at www.kgmi.com.
International Basketball League Stories from June 11, 2012
- Slam's Win Streak Snapped at Salem - Bellingham Slam
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