FEBRUARY 16, 2009

Bellingham Slam announce 2009 schedule

Defending champions debut set for April 3 vs. Seattle

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The Bellingham Slam has released the team's 2009 regular season schedule and will tip-off the season on April 3, returning to the court for the first time since winning the 2008 International Basketball League championship last July. The team will play a 20-game schedule, with ten home games taking place at Whatcom Pavilion on the campus of Whatcom Community College.

For the first time in the team’s four-year history, the Slam will open the regular season at home. On April 3, Bellingham will play host to the Seattle Mountaineers, a team that returns to the IBL after a one-year hiatus and holds a 25-19 all-time record in the league.

Bellingham will be among 16 other teams this season in the IBL, which features teams from the West coast, Midwest, Canada, and Asia. The season runs through June and is followed by the IBL’s Western Conference playoff tournament hosted by the Snohomish County Explosion on July 1-3. The winner of the conference tournament will then advance to the IBL Championship game in mid-July.

The Slam’s home schedule features nine games played on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday evening, and one matinee game taking place on Memorial Day, May 25.

In addition, Bellingham’s home schedule will feature an international flair as the Slam are scheduled to play host to four teams from outside the United States – two teams from Canada and one each from China and Japan.