Saturday night in Tacoma marked the third meeting between the Central Oregon Hotshots and the Tacoma Tide teams this season, but each team sent out very different starting lineups this time around. Both the Tide and Hotshots were missing usual starters forcing each head coach to play smaller players and a quicker style. The Tide were missing Lorenzo Rollins, Quentin Nolen, & Chris Hyppa, while the Hotshots were without their top two leading scorers Harry Good and Terry Jeffries.

            Michael Claxton took full advantage of his infrequent start. “Clickety-Clax” made four quick threes on his way to scoring 14 of the Tide’s first 18 points. The Tide were able to open up a 18-9 lead within the first five minutes of action.

            After finding themselves down 25-17 at the end of the first quarter, the Hotshots got within three points after Travis Noble knocked down a pair of threes. With the clock reading 8:30 left in the second quarter, that was as close as the Hotshots would get.

Playing with a four-guard lineup, the barrage of three pointers continued for the Tide throughout the second quarter helping them open up a double-digit lead midway through the quarter; a lead they never relinquished. The Tide ended up going 10 for 21 from the arc in the first half and held a 55-39 lead as they headed into the locker room. Justin Murray had 13 points at half, while Claxton had 16.

The Tide went cold from three in third quarter, missing all seven attempts, but the game was never in doubt in the second half and the lead ballooned to 26 after a thunderous breakaway dunk by Marlon Bailey. The rare Bailey dunk put the Tide up 71-45.

The large lead gave Lovelady an opportunity to play his rookies Andre Thompson and Jeff Stukes. Thompson ended up leading the Tide with 21 points, 16 of them coming in the 4^th quarter. Stukes relieved Williams of his point guard duties in the 4^th quarter and had 8 points as the Tide won by the score of 116-84

            With guard Chris Hyppa sidelined with a groin injury, Antwan Williams is the team’s only true point guard and Coach Lovelady has been relying heavily on the rookie from UPS. In Tuesday’s overtime victory against the Bellingham Slam Antwan Williams played over fifty minutes. Tonight Williams went the first three quarters without seeing the bench and finished with 8 assists as six Tide players scored in double figures. Justin Murray did a little of everything for Tacoma, ending the night with 19 points, 13 rebounds, 5 steals, and 3 blocks.

Forward Damian Browne was one of the few bright spots for the Hotshots, giving them numerous second chance opportunities with his 11 offensive rebounds. Browne ended up with 20 total rebounds to go along with his 15 points.

            The win gives the Tide a season sweep of the Hotshots and brings their record to 12-7. They will welcome in the Los Angeles Lightning to Stadium High School on Tuesday for the regular season finale. The Tide are trying to leapfrog the Seattle Mountaineers in the standings to earn the sixth seed and a secure a first-round bye in the IBL playoffs which begin July 1^st in Monroe, Washington.

            Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults on Tuesday night. Tip-off is set for 7:00pm.