Bellingham Slam guard Cole Bajema.
PHOTO: Courtesy of the Bellingham Slam
Bajema debuts as Slam Fall in Pro-Am Opener
July 7, 2018
The Bellingham Slam opened up play in the Crawsover Seattle Pro-Am League with a loss Saturday. The Vancouver Battle beat Bellingham 100-to-97 at Royal Brougham Pavilion in Seattle.
Former Washington Husky and NBA player Tony Wroten Jr. led Vancouver with 29 points. The 25th overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2012 NBA draft added 7 rebounds and 5 assists and went 15-of-20 from the free throw line. Former Western Washington University point guard Robert Harris Jr. tallied 19 points in the win.
The Slam fell behind 31-26 after one quarter of play and never led in the contest. Bellingham came back from 15 points down to tie it late in the 4th quarter but could never get over the hump. A couple of late looks at three’s to tie at the end the game came up short.
Bellingham was led by the 20 points a piece from former Lynden Christian star Paul Hafford and WWU standout Paul Jones. Deandre Dickson, who just wrapped up his career at Western this year, turned in a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Lynden Christian's Cole Bajema, the lone prep player on the Bellingham squad, made his debut Saturday. The reigning 1A State Player of the Year played 10 minutes, hitting his only shot for 2 points and grabbing 1 rebound.
Zach LaVine, a new addition to the Slam roster, did not play Saturday. According to an ESPN report, the Chicago Bulls are expected to match a $78 million Sacramento Kings offer sheet given to their restricted free agent swingman out of Bothell High School this weekend.
The Slam are back in action Sunday when they take on the Kitsap Admirals. It's a 3:00pm tip-off with free admission at Royal Brougham Pavilion on the campus of Seattle Pacific University.
- Doug Lange
Center Logan Schilder shoots as the Bellingham Slam warm-up before their game vs. Vancouver. PHOTO: Courtesy of the Bellingham Slam
