EVERETT- It was business as usual for the Everett Explosion.
Despite the game not meaning anything in the standings, the Explosion continued their winning ways Tuesday night, defeating the Seattle Mountaineers 133-119 in an International Basketball League game played in front of 2,066 fans at the Everett Events Center.
Everett (16-4) had already clinched a No. 2 seed in the IBL West playoffs and had secured the West Division championship with a win over the Mountaineers on Sunday.
The Explosion celebrated their championship by raising their West Division banner and sporting championship T-shirts after the victory.
“They (Everett) gave us a lot of love and support and I appreciate that,” Everett head coach Randy Redwine said. “Hopefully we can continue this journey by winning a championship in the IBL.”
Redwine dedicated the game to Chris Weakley’s father, William, who passed away last week and the Explosion held a moment of silence before the game for William Weakley.
“It was a little emotional, having my father watch over me,” Weakley said.
Weakley, who scored 19 points and was in the starting lineup for the first time since coming back to the team, was rusty in the first quarter. But his sharp-shooting from behind the 3-point arc kept the Mountaineers from pulling away in the second quarter.
“I was a little rusty. Coach just told me to take some time and get back into my rhythm and shots will start falling,” said Weakley, who finished 5-for-15 on 3-pointers.
Everett jumped out to an early lead before Seattle began making its comeback.
The Mountaineers put together a 9-0 run to pull within one midway through the second quarter.
Weakley ended the run with his second of three 3-pointers in the quarter, but the Mountaineers scratched back to take a 45-44 lead late in the second after a Lemar Gayle 3-pointer.
Gayle finished with a game-high 26 points but was disqualified late in the fourth quarter after receiving his second technical foul.
Donald Watts answered Gayle with a 3-pointer of his own and Everett never looked back.
The Explosion finished the half with a 21-7 run, draining seven 3-pointers in the second quarter alone, and eased through the second half, never allowing the Mountaineers to get closer than seven points.
“I didn’t want to take any chances,” Redwine said about not taking it easy in the season finale.
“I wanted to get the ‘big dogs’ growling and make sure we kept and met our goals.”
Rashaad Powell once again led the Explosion with 22 points.
Forward Justin Murray added 20 points and eight rebounds and Jamaal Miller had 21 and seven assists.
The Explosion also welcomed back point guard Darrell Walker, who was on injured reserve with a pulled groin.
The fan favorite scored five points in limited action.
“It felt better. I had a lot of energy and got the adrenaline going and the pain went away,” Walker said.
Walker hopes that he’ll be all healed come next weekend’s playoffs.
“We’ll know tonight how it feels. This was my little test,” Walker said.
Everett plays the Vancouver Volcanoes at 6:15 p.m. Friday on the campus of Warner Pacific College in Portland, Ore.
The Explosion defeated the Volcanoes 139-94 in their home opener on April 10.
“It’s showtime now,” Weakley said.
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