The Bellingham Slam lost to the Albany Legends 126-111 in the 2010 International Basketball League Championship game July 16 in Albany, N.Y.
The Bellingham Slam lost to the Albany Legends 126-111 in the 2010 International Basketball League Championship game July 16 in Albany, N.Y.
The loss kept the Slam from winning their second IBL title since joining the league in 2008. They finished the season with a final record of 15-8.
Head coach Rob Ridnour said his team was prepared for a tough game going into the matchup with Albany. The Legends were able to capitalize on key mistakes by the Slam to eventually pull away in the fourth quarter and win.
“They just made plays and we didn’t,” Ridnour said. “That’s just basketball.”
There were a total of 18 lead changes throughout the game. The Slam allowed Albany to score 78 second-half points after only trailing by three at halftime.
The Legends entered the game as the top-ranked team in the IBL and were the number one seed throughout the playoffs. This was their inaugural season in the league and also the first time they had played for a championship title.
“They’re a good basketball team,” Ridnour said. “That’s why they’re the number one seed.”
Assistant coach Mike Elsner said playing the game on Albany’s home court at the Washington Avenue Armory was challenging. Not only did the Slam have to travel across the country to play, but the temperature on the floor at tip-off was easily over 90 degrees, Elsner said.
“It was the warmest gym I’ve ever been in,” he said.
Elsner said the Slam struggled to hit three-pointers throughout the game. They were outrebounded by the Legends, who grabbed 60 rebounds compared to the Slam’s 37.
Players also had a tough time keeping their composure. The team was called for three technical fouls by officials.
The Slam’s road to the title game was a relatively easy one. They won a July 2 playoff quarterfinal game against the Los Angeles Lightning 112-94. On July 3 they made quick work of the Yamhill HighFlyers, defeating them 136-105 in the IBL Conference Finals to earn a spot in the championship game.
The team’s playoff success came after placing fourth in the IBL’s International Division at the end of the regular season. They entered the playoffs with a record of 13-7. The Slam have qualified for the postseason in each of the three years they have played in the IBL.
Guard Paul Hafford said the team did ok this year but was unable to pull off a number of close games that could have given them more momentum as the season wore on.
“When it comes down to the wire, you’ve got to find a way to win those tight ones,” he said.
Hafford, in his third year on the team, hit his stride toward the end of the season and was a team leader in scoring for four games in June. He scored a season-high 40 points on the road against the Vancouver Volcanoes on June 12.
Rookie guard Morris Anderson said he thought he played well in his first year on the Slam. Anderson graduated from Western last year and was a stand-out player for the Viking men’s basketball team. He was one of three rookies who joined the Slam right out of Western.
Anderson started in the championship game and finished with 14 points and four assists. He received considerable playing time throughout the year, seeing action in 20 games and starting in 16.
He said playing professionally in Bellingham is not much different than playing at the college level.
Anderson said his ultimate goal is to eventually make it onto the big stage and play in the NBA. Anderson said as long as he keeps working hard and showing people how well he can play, he has high hopes for his future as a pro player.
Both Hafford and Anderson said they plan to rejoin the Slam when the next season begins in April 2011.
“I’m hungry for next year,” Hafford said.
The loss kept the Slam from winning their second IBL title since joining the league in 2008. They finished the season with a final record of 15-8.
Head coach Rob Ridnour said his team was prepared for a tough game going into the matchup with Albany. The Legends were able to capitalize on key mistakes by the Slam to eventually pull away in the fourth quarter and win.
“They just made plays and we didn’t,” Ridnour said. “That’s just basketball.”
There were a total of 18 lead changes throughout the game. The Slam allowed Albany to score 78 second-half points after only trailing by three at halftime.
The Legends entered the game as the top-ranked team in the IBL and were the number one seed throughout the playoffs. This was their inaugural season in the league and also the first time they had played for a championship title.
“They’re a good basketball team,” Ridnour said. “That’s why they’re the number one seed.”
Assistant coach Mike Elsner said playing the game on Albany’s home court at the Washington Avenue Armory was challenging. Not only did the Slam have to travel across the country to play, but the temperature on the floor at tip-off was easily over 90 degrees, Elsner said.
“It was the warmest gym I’ve ever been in,” he said.
Elsner said the Slam struggled to hit three-pointers throughout the game. They were outrebounded by the Legends, who grabbed 60 rebounds compared to the Slam’s 37.
Players also had a tough time keeping their composure. The team was called for three technical fouls by officials.
The Slam’s road to the title game was a relatively easy one. They won a July 2 playoff quarterfinal game against the Los Angeles Lightning 112-94. On July 3 they made quick work of the Yamhill HighFlyers, defeating them 136-105 in the IBL Conference Finals to earn a spot in the championship game.
The team’s playoff success came after placing fourth in the IBL’s International Division at the end of the regular season. They entered the playoffs with a record of 13-7. The Slam have qualified for the postseason in each of the three years they have played in the IBL.
Guard Paul Hafford said the team did ok this year but was unable to pull off a number of close games that could have given them more momentum as the season wore on.
“When it comes down to the wire, you’ve got to find a way to win those tight ones,” he said.
Hafford, in his third year on the team, hit his stride toward the end of the season and was a team leader in scoring for four games in June. He scored a season-high 40 points on the road against the Vancouver Volcanoes on June 12.
Rookie guard Morris Anderson said he thought he played well in his first year on the Slam. Anderson graduated from Western last year and was a stand-out player for the Viking men’s basketball team. He was one of three rookies who joined the Slam right out of Western.
Anderson started in the championship game and finished with 14 points and four assists. He received considerable playing time throughout the year, seeing action in 20 games and starting in 16.
He said playing professionally in Bellingham is not much different than playing at the college level.
Anderson said his ultimate goal is to eventually make it onto the big stage and play in the NBA. Anderson said as long as he keeps working hard and showing people how well he can play, he has high hopes for his future as a pro player.
Both Hafford and Anderson said they plan to rejoin the Slam when the next season begins in April 2011.
“I’m hungry for next year,” Hafford said.
