Tim Hardaway, Florida Pit Bulls edge Bellingham Slam, 114-111
February 20, 2006 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Bellingham Slam News Release
Bellingham, WA -- Former NBA All-Star and Florida Pit Bulls player/coach Tim Hardaway scored 38 points, one fewer than his age, as the Pit Bulls rallied from a 10-point fourth quarter deficit and defeated the Bellingham Slam, 114-111, in an inter-conference American Basketball Association game Sunday night at Whatcom Pavilion.
The Slam led for all but seven minutes in the game, but it was a lackluster fourth quarter that sealed the Slam's fate and gave them their second loss of the season to the Pit Bulls. The Slam lost to the Pit Bulls 123-105 on the road in Sunrise, Florida on January 29.
The Slam used 58 percent shooting in the first half to build a nine point lead at halftime, and even stretched the lead to 15 twice in the third quarter before the veteran leadership of Hardaway helped guide the Pit Bulls back into the game. Trailing eight going into the fourth quarter, Hardaway went to work and unleashed a barrage of jump shots that eventually gave Florida their first lead since the 11-minute mark of the second quarter. Hardaway finished with 17 points in the quarter, including a pair of free throws with four seconds left that helped preserve the victory.
After Darren Randall scored with 37 seconds left to give Florida a 111-108 lead, Brandon Hartley sank a pair of free throws on the next possession to trim the margin to one. Following the play, Terrance Shelman was fouled but made one one of his free throws, giving the Pit Bulls a narrow 112-110 lead. With a chance to tie the game, Caleb Gervin's shot was blocked and deflected into Hardaway's hands, who was promptly fouled and sent to the line. With Whatcom Pavilion's crowd roaring, Hardaway sank both shots to seemingly give the Pit Bulls a comfortable four point lead with six seconds left. But on the next possession, Hartley was fouled in the act of shooting, sending him back to the line. Hartley sank the first and intentionally missed the second, and Craig Roosendaal was able to corral the long rebound and dish the ball to Gervin with three seconds left, but Gervin was unable to get a shot up before time expired.
Hartley led four Slam players with 20-point nights with 28, followed by Jacob Stevenson, Mike Parker, and Gervin, with 22, 21, and 20 respectively.
The Pit Bulls (19-7) snapped the Slam's four game winning streak, but the Slam (16-12) will have a chance at revenge as the two teams hit the Pavilion hardwood again on Tuesday at 7 pm.
For more information, call the Slam at (360) 734-SLAM or visit their website at www.bellinghamslam.com.
Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.
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