MONROE, Wash. – The Bellingham Slam used a combination of hot shooting and stifling defense to claim the International Basketball League’s Western Conference championship with a 120-106 victory over the Vancouver Volcanoes at the Monroe Sports Arena on Sunday afternoon. The Slam now advance to the IBL championship game against the defending champion Elkhart Express.
For the second straight night, the Slam used a big second quarter to pull away from their opponent. The Slam led by just three, at 30-27 after the first quarter, but held Vancouver to just 12 points and four field goals in the second to take a 64-39 lead going into halftime. Lukas Henne closed the big quarter for the Slam with back-to-back three pointers, both off passes from Ryan Diggs. Diggs scored 13 points in the first half en route to 39 on the night and earned tournament MVP honors.
In the third quarter, the Slam extended their lead to as much as 38 before Vancouver scored eight of the period’s final ten points for a 94-62 Bellingham advantage going into the fourth quarter.
Fighting for their playoff lives, Vancouver staged a furious comeback in the last twelve minutes, using seven three-point baskets to get within 12 points of the lead, at 116-104, with 1:21 left to play. However, the Volcanoes would get no closer as Diggs and Tyler Amaya came through at the free throw line to preserve the victory.
Diggs’ 29 points paced three Slam players who surpassed the 20-point mark. Amaya scored 23 points and Henne added 21. Amaya also chimed in with 14 rebounds and six assists.
Porter Troupe led six Vancouver players in double figures with 23 points. Brad Lechtenberg added 18 points, including a 5-for-6 showing from three-point range.
With the victory, the Slam advance to the IBL’s championship game on July 18 against Elkhart, who defeated Battle Creek 147-130 in the Eastern Conference championship. Tip-off for the title game is set for 7:30 p.m. at Whatcom Pavilion.