Tide's Strong Start Squandered at Home

By Jon Billings

University Place, Wash. – An early second-quarter lead by the Tide vanished in what seemed like mere seconds as the visiting Bellingham Slam took the lead and never looked back, as they downed the Tide at Curtis High School 116-95. "We lost energy," said Tide head coach Mark Lovelady. "Our guys just came out and stopped doing what we do well."

Tacoma (2-9) ended the first quarter up 25-22 thanks in large part to a rejuvenated Dontay Harris. The International Basketball League’s all-time leading scorer was back in action after missing Tacoma’s last three games due to an irregular heartbeat, but he wasn’t impressed with his performance.

“I was a little out rhythm. I tried to play as hard as I possibly can…I should have had about 14 more [points],” said Harris.

Harris finished the game with 19 points, five points above his season average, but it was Bellingham’s 6-foot-4 guard Jacob Stevenson that stole the show.

Scoring 10 points in each of the game’s first two quarters, Stevenson set the tone early for the Slam (6-2) and finished with a game-high 35 points.

“I just felt good tonight. I felt like I had a lot of space and I was knocking down shots tonight,” said Stevenson.

Behind Stevenson’s scoring touch, Tacoma’s deficit, which was six at the end of the first half, snowballed in the second.

“We really just spread the floor, they kind of tried to extend us out – keep us outside – and we were able to penetrate,” said Stevenson.

The Tide take to the court Saturday, looking for win number three on the season as the team takes on the Vancouver Volcanoes. The game starts at 7 p.m. at Curtis High School. Tickets can be purchased at www.tacomatidesports.com.

Be Sociable, Share!

•