Volcanoes’ season ends with playoff loss

The Vancouver Volcanoes’ quest for a second straight league title crashed to a halt Friday with a 127-98 loss to Bellingham.

The Volcanoes, the defending International Basketball League champions, fell to the host Slam in the semifinals of the league playoffs. Bellingham will meet the Portland Chinooks on Sunday for the league title.

Alex Hartman led a balanced attack Friday for the Volcanoes with 21 points, but Vancouver was unable to overcome an early deficit.

The Slam led by four points following the first quarter and expanded the lead to 41-28 midway through the second. After leading 91-75 through three quarters, Bellingham put the game away with a 36-23 advantage in the final period.

Drew Ready finished with 26 points, nine rebounds, and six assists for the Slam.

Josh Tarver scored 20 points for Vancouver, while Brad Lechtenberg had 17 and Alex Tiefenthaler added 15. Lechtenberg was 5 of 6 from 3-point range for the second night in a row, finishing two playoff games with 32 points and 10 of 12 from long range.

IBL Semifinals at Bellingham

Friday’s Games

Bellingham Slam 127, Vancouver Volcanoes 98

Portland Chinooks 118, Olympia Reign 113

BELLINGHAM SLAM 127, VANCOUVER VOLCANOES 98

VANCOUVER — Nakashima 0-0 0-0 0, Lechtenberg 5-6 2-2 17, Troupe 1-7 0-0 2, Tarver 6-14 6-6 20, Hartman 7-16 5-6 21, West 1-4 0-0 2, Murray 4-10 2-2 11, Uskoski 1-4 0-0 2, Tiefenthaler 7-17 1-1 15, Christie 1-4 0-0 2, Keep 2-3 2-2 6. Totals 35-85 2-2 6.

BELLINGHAM — Kok 3-4 0-0 8, Hafford 9-23 0-1 22, Henifin 1-3 4-5 6, Anderson 5-19 5-5 15, Ready 11-15 3-3 26, Jar.Stevenson 1-6 3-4 5, Jac.Stevenson 6-11 2-3 14, Green 3-9 0-0 6, Poole 11-18 2-4 25. Totals 50-108 19-25 127.

Vancouver 22 25 28 23– 98

Bellingham 26 32 33 36–127