The trio of Tim Ellis, Randy Green and Kyle Keyes combined to score 90 points as the King County Royals defeated the Bellingham Slam, 124-121, in an intense ABA game at North Seattle Community College on Friday night.
Friday's game ended the season series against the Slam. After Bellingham took the first five games of what turned into a bitter rivalry, King County was able to prevail in the final two.
After Bellingham took a ten point lead with two minutes left in the first half, the only time either team led by double digits in the game, the Royals scored ten of the quarter's final 12 points to trim Bellingham's lead to 64-62 going into halftime.
The third quarter saw both teams play very evenly, with King County only able to trim their deficit to one, at 95-94, going into the final period.
The Slam were able to open up the fourth quarter by scoring the first five points, and maintained their lead until the latter stages of the quarter. With the Slam leading 113-108 with four minutes to play, the Royals scored the game's next eight points to establish their first lead of the quarter, at 116-113.
After Mike Parker scored four points on the Slam's next two possessions to put Bellingham back on top at 117-116 with 1:56 to play following a Green three-pointer, Ellis nailed another three on the Royals' next trip down the court. After Bellingham scored on the Slam's next possession to re-tie the game at 119-119, Jamie Booker converted a three-point play to put King County ahead by three on what would be prove to be the game's winning basket.
The Slam were unable to get a decent look at the basket as a desperation three-pointer at the buzzer wasn't able to find the rim.
The Ellis-Green-Keyes, which accounted for almost three-quarters of the Royals' offense, led five players in double digits. In addition to his 26 points, Keyes also dished out 14 assists.
Parker's 37 points, to go along with 11 rebounds, paced five Slam players in double figures. Brandon Hartley added 25 points while Freymond contributed 14.
