| By: Darren Woods |
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| Olympia guards (L) Nate Menefee and (R) Mike Ward stretch before Tuesday nights game |
Blake Poole, the Slam post who scorched the Reign two weeks prior for 19 points and 11 rebounds, was not able to attend the rematch citing illness. Slam Head Coach Rob Ridnour said before the game that Poole was en route but was turned back by the coaching staff so he could rest and get ready for the two week stretch leading to the IBL Playoffs.
Another familiar face and scoring machine Virgil Matthews of the Reign was not able to make the game for an undisclosed reason which meant an already struggling Olympia squad, 6-12 as of June 27, would have to find a way to replace his 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
And so the matchup was set. The Reign, looking to rebound from a 121-96 rout from game one vs. Bellingham, would lace the gym shoes up and go head to head with the Slam one last time before the playoffs.
Dennard Abraham started his first game for the Reign in several weeks as Olympia shifted things around Matthew's absence. The Reign looked determined not to take another spanking on their home court as they never let the Slam get out too far ahead.
After one quarter of play the Reign trailed the Slam by just three holding Bellingham to a 28-25 advantage. By halftime the Slam extended their lead to 12 points thanks to Paul Hafford and Jacob Stevenson's 12 points a piece heading into the locker room. The third quarter saw the Slam extend their lead and went into the final quarter of play up 90-76 but in the IBL a 14 point lead with 12 minutes to play means nothing. The Reign with just under 10 minutes to play in regulation trimmed the score down to 87-96 before a couple untimely turnovers that led to another lopsided loss in the CRC Gymnasium in Olympia. The Slam would leave with bragging rights once again, winning 125-107 improving their record to 13-5 on the season.Leading the way for Bellingham was Jacob Stevenson who had a career night 32 points and seven rebounds while both Paul Hafford and Tyler Amaya chipped in 17 points each in the win. Lukas Henne filled the absence of Poole by recording the Slam's only double-double with his 16 points and 10 rebounds.
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| #23 Marcus Whittaker led the Reign in scoring with 22 points vs. Bellingham |
The Reign have played two IBL games since the rematch, both of which they were defeated on the road. Thursday night they fell to the Portland Chinooks 158-133 and then to the Vancouver Volcanoes 129-123.
Olympia concludes their regular season this week with games on Tuesday and Wednesday nigh while the Slam don't play again until the playoffs start this weekend at Clark College in Vancouver, Washington July 1 and 2.
Quotable:
After Tuesday night's game vs. Bellingham, Reign assistant coach Terrance Menefee talked about why he thought his team had early success against the Slam
"We responded after being down. Last time we threw in the towel. This time we responded."
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| Dennard Abraham |
"Just taking less jump shots and trying to get to the basket more. I was saying before the game 'don't shoot just take it to the basket."
Rob Ridnour on Blake Poole:
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| Slam Head Coach Rob Ridnour |
"He was on his way [to the game] but he was throwing up, we just told him to turn around and go home."
PHOTOS
BANGED UP!!
Top: Framecio Little suffered a minor ankle injury against the Slam Tuesday night. Little would return after getting his ankle wrapped
Below: After a ket put back Bill Richardson took an elbow to the neck that left him on the hardwood for several minutes before being helped off the floor. Richardson would return to the game
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| Framecio Little |
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| Bill Richardson |
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