MONROE — The Snohomish County Explosion and the Bellingham Slam play each other four times this season and if the first encounter is any indication of things to come, local International Basketball League fans are in for a treat.
The teams — who meet for the second time tonight at Monroe High School — battled into the final minutes back on March 8 before the Explosion emerged with a 116-106 victory that came much tougher than indicated by the final margin.
“I think it was just a sign of things to come,” said Brian Dennis, the Slam’s 6-foot-6, 295-pound man-mountain who led the Slam with 14 rebounds in that game. “We have started a great rivalry.”
Slam coach Rob Ridnour — father of Luke Ridnour of the Seattle SuperSonics — agreed.
“It will be real intense,” Ridnour said. “This will be a lot of fun and good basketball.”
The IBL is normally known as a shoot first, maybe guard your guy later circuit, but the kick-off game between the Slam and Explosion featured hard-nosed defense by both squads.
“We thought it would be a little more up and down, but it turned out to be more of a grind fest and a possession game,” Ridnour said. “It made it a lot of fun for fans.”
Snohomish County coach Randy Redwine chuckled at Ridnour’s accurate assessment.
“(Ridnour) would say that,” Redwine said. “He’s got all that beef and we’re kind of sleek.”
Bodies were flying all over the floor the first time around when the two teams were whistled for a combined 65 fouls. Several key players teetered on the edge of fouling out, but incredibly, nobody did.
The Slam might have come away victorious if not for a mediocre 31-for-47 performance from the foul line compared to the crisp 30-for-36 effort by the Explosion.
“We’re looking forward to another very physical game,” Redwine said. “We know what to expect and we know we’ve got to get our licks in now (at home) because they’re going to get theirs up there (in Bellingham) if they can.”
Bigs playing like they practice: In the 129-115 victory over Vancouver last Saturday the Explosion — for the second straight game — enjoyed a huge lift from some unsung big men.
Starting center David White (six rebounds, 12 points) and back-up post Mike Jones (10 rebounds, six points) shined for the Explosion, especially in the second half when it counted most.
“We know we have to set a presence out there,” said Jones. “We’ve got to let them know we’re there.”
Redwine said White and Jones battle in practice and it carries over into games.
“The best way to describe those guys is the practice and cohesiveness is paying off,” Redwine said. “Come game time they’re ready to put the lumber on someone else. They’re just as important to this team as the guys who score 20 or 30 points.”
Pass happy: Against the Volcanoes the Explosion continued to play unselfishly. Point guard Jamal Miller, in addition to maintaining his 22 points per game scoring average, led the team with nine assists.
When the Volcanoes crept within 12 points in the third quarter, the 6-foot-11 White made a jump shot and added a thunderous jam in transition — both buckets coming on sharp passes by crafty guard Milton Wright.
“I try to keep all the guys involved,” said Wright who is averaging 6.5 assists per game. “You’ve got to feed the big men.”
Players to watch: Bellingham is led by high-flying 6-foot-7 forward Erroll Knight and containing the former Gonzaga standout will fall to 6-foot-6 Explosion forward Justin James who is coming off a 22 point, six rebound effort against Vancouver.
Bellingham guard Jacob Stevenson — who had 20 points against the Explosion in the first meeting — is a fiery competitor who might just be the Danny Ainge of the IBL. You absolutely love him when he is on your team. There’s considerably less affection when he’s not.
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