What's New with the IBL this Week

April 25, 2013 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Jersey G-Force News Release


The "Battle of the Bridges" hosted by the Volcanoes at Clark College, will have Vancouver Mayor, Tim Leavitt tip-off Saturday at 7:00 pm, versus their cross-river rivals, the Portland Chinooks. More than just a game the entertainment for the home opener includes the One of a Kind Drumline, directed by Ed Esparza from Martin Luther King Elementary School and Vancouver Volcanoes Dancers. On the court the Coaches know they have a battle featuring players who are familiar with each other.

"Portland always presents a match-up problem with their size and ability to shoot the ball on the perimeter. "Most of their players can play multiple positions so it's difficult to stay with one defensive scheme for very long, Novarro continued. "These two rosters know each other very well, and it's turned into a bit of a rivalry with the players. We have a strong team as well this year, but we still need to mesh and play together as a cohesive team in order to beat the Chinooks."

Head Coach of the Chinooks, Trevor Kiser agrees the talent on the court will make it an intense fast-paced game. "Many of our guys are from out of town and we are preparing for our first game on the road just across the bridge. We have some new faces like 6'2" PG Steven Shepp out of Fresno State and 6'3" G Mike Harthun from Portland State University to go with nucleus from last year's team including the return of 6'9" F Kevin Ford, 6'7" F Everett Spencer, 2012 IBL All Stars 6'9" F Jared Cunningham and 6'8" F David Lucas, we have to blend together. Vancouver is a strong team and have two games on us in experience this season, but we will be ready," Coach Kiser shared with confidence as he also has Associate Head Coach Clif Wegner from Clackamus Community College on the bench.

Come early for a youth game with First Step, an AAU basketball program lead by the Volcanoes Kevin "˜Pip' Bloodsaw starting at 5:45pm. A free, full-color game day souvenir programs are provided to the fans, along with the 2013 Community Poster, Volcanoes Dancers poster and don't forget to get autographs!

"We anticipate a crowd of up to 1,400 fans at this game," said Clay Bonds, VP and Director of Operations, "which is why the doors open at 5:45pm. I guarantee it will be a sell-out crowd, so fans should arrive early," Bonds declared.

Game Recaps

All eyes were out on the court for the start of the IBL season on Friday night at Whatcom Pavillion as the Vancouver Volcanoes took on the reigning 2012 IBL champs the Bellingham Slam. The teams played through the third quarter to a 66-66 tie before Bellingham opened up a lead and held it for more than half of the final period. The Volcanoes fell short losing to the Bellingham Slam 116-92. However, on Sunday, the Volcanoes unified long enough to earn their first win of the season. In the Volcanoes home opener at the O'Connell Sports Complex at Clark College, Vancouver defeated the IBL reigning champion Bellingham Slam, 94-86 which avenged the season-opening loss in Bellingham on Friday night. Both the Volcanoes and The Slam improve to 1-1 to start off the season.

In Fridays game that featured 23 lead changes, the two teams were tied at halftime and the Slam held a five-point lead at 83-78 after three quarters. 6'0" Center Evan Matteson and 6'4" Guard Jacob Stevenson of the Slam had a strong night combining for 55 points. Stevenson led the Slam with 30 points while Matteson finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds. 6'6" Forward Chehales Tapscott posted a team-high of 18 points and 14 boards for Vancouver, while former 6'6" Slam Guard Paul Hafford finished with 17 . 6'3" Guard Morris Anderson was also a key performer, posting totals of 21 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. On Sunday, the teams played even through the third quarter to a 66-66 tie before Bellingham opened up a lead and held it for more than half of the final period. 6'6" Forward Chas Kok and guard Jacob Stevenson shared the scoring lead for Bellingham with 19 points each. Then, newly acquired 6'6" Guard Paul Hafford whom led six Vancouver players in double figures with 16 scored on a reverse layup to pull Vancouver to within one point. 6'3" Josh Tarver, freed by a high screen, got inside and tied the game at 82-82 at the 3:35 mark.

As the two teams come back to battle each other on Bellingham's home court once again on June 21st at Whatcom Pavillion, will the Slam have another home court advantage or will the Volcanoes come back and win the title? That is something that is on everyone's mind and we'll have to wait and find out.

IBL Player of the Week

Presented by Phiten, Bellingham Slam's #22 Jacob Stevenson was named Player of the Week for games played this last weekend as the IBL Season tipped-off with the Slam facing the Volcanoes at home Friday, then on the road Sunday. This 6'4" guard guided the Slam to a win against the Volcanoes to open the season while pacing the league in scoring 30 pts in the April 19th game coming close to his season-high 33 points in 2012. Adding 19 pts in Sunday's game as the visiting team to lead all scores in both games, Stevenson is currently the leading scorer in the IBL at 24.5ppg, second in all time IBL scoring. Another Western Washington product Stevenson was the only Slam player to appear in every game in the team's history until an ankle injury sidelined him late in the 2008 season, but made his return in 2009 and is a fixture on the team as the all time leading scorer at 2,833 points, assists at 583 and steals at 298.

GET IN THE GAME! or tune into 930 KBAI for the live broadcast to see how many the first Player of the Week Jacob Stevenson scores this friday versus the Kitsap Admirals at home.

Kitsap starts their season in Bellingham

The Kitsap Admirals are bringing their game on and off the court to the IBL in a great market with fans embracing the team and making an impact in their community from the Team Ethan to the Young Admirals event building the next generation of talent. Friday the Admirals travel north to Bellingham to face the 2012 IBL Champion Slam, who are 1-1 in the season so far after last weekend's home opener and re-match versus the 2011 Champs, the Vancouver Volcanoes."My feelings about starting our branding season against the IBL 2012 Champs are crossed between honored and excited! As a Owner I'm honored to start our IBL debut as a guest in the IBL's top organization home as a Head Coach excited to lead my men into battle against the defending champs! Bellingham is a well known and respected town for basketball due to Western and the Slam unlike Kitsap we have been over looked as a hot bed for talent when it comes to basketball. Much like the Bellingham Slam, Kitsap has as mission is a small town with big dreams to help make a difference in our community, bring our city a championship while sending players overseas. Dreams don't happen overnight but with faith, unity, determination, endurance and heart on April 26th the Admirals take our first step on our journey."

Follow the Admirals journey this season in the IBL as they host three games at home May 19th versus the Japan Nippon Tornadoes featuring talent from the BJ League, June 2nd a re-match versus the 2012 IBL Champion Bellingham Slam and June 9th taking on the Salem Sabres at home to even the score from the PNW Tournament in April.



International Basketball League Stories from April 25, 2013


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