VANCOUVER, Wash. – The Slam’s franchise-record 12 game winning streak ended as they lost in overtime to the Vancouver Volcanoes, 134-131, in a thrilling game Saturday at Clark College.
Brad Lechtenberg’s three-pointer at the fourth quarter buzzer forced the extra session, as Vancouver was able to erase an 11-point deficit in the quarter and draw even at 112-112. A sustained effort helped the Volcanoes whittle away at the Slam’s lead, with Vancouver taking a four-point lead with 4:48 left to play. But the Slam quickly scored the next five points to take a one-point advantage, at 105-104, and the two teams traded one-point leads until a Lukas Henne free throw gave the Slam a two-point lead, at 111-109, with six seconds left. Although Henne missed the second of his foul shots, Tyler Amaya grabbed the rebound, was fouled, and hit one-of-two free throws to give Bellingham a three-point lead before Lechtenberg hit the tying shot at the other end for the Volcanoes.
For the second straight game, the Slam started off sluggish, allowing Vancouver to race out to a 15-4 lead in the first four minutes before Bellingham woke up and was eventually able to tie the game on an Amaya three-pointer as the first quarter drew to a close.
The second quarter proved to be a defensive struggle, with both teams combining for just 36 points. The Slam were able to take the lead in the period and led at the break, at 46-41, despite shooting just 31 percent in the quarter.
The Slam extended their lead with a run to start the third quarter, highlighted by a vicious tomahawk dunk by Henne, which put the Slam up by 14. The Slam kept a double-digit lead for most of the quarter before Vancouver started their comeback in the fourth.
The Volcanoes drew first blood in the overtime session on a Kevin Tyner jumper, before a Ryan Diggs lay-up and a Brandon Hartley three-pointer game the Slam a three-point lead, at 117-114, with 3:48 left. But the Slam’s lead was short lived as Vancouver scored the next six points to take a lead it would keep the rest of the way. But the Slam refused to go away quietly as Henne hit a clutch three-pointer with six seconds left to trim a Vancouver lead from four down to one. After two converted free throws at Vancouver’s end, Jared Stevenson got a good look at a tying attempt as time expired, but the shot wouldn’t go.
Despite the loss, the game featured several excellent individual performances for the Slam. Amaya set a new team record with 23 rebounds to go along with 23 points, while Henne also had a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Jacob Stevenson and Paul Hafford chipped in with 20 points each.
Porter Troupe and Josh Jackson led eight Vancouver players in double figures with 23 points.