(14-8) – 3rd West Division, Longest Win Streak, Season = 5, Longest Loss Streak, Season = 3
Tacoma is one of the league’s original cities (fifth year for the city, fifth year for many of the players on the current team) but this 2009 team was under a new ownership and a brand new culture. The team—like the Seattle Mountaineers was a not for profit team with players donating time to the team and the team donating to the community. This new Tacoma entry—the Tacoma Tide came into 2009 with a goal of increasing their win total for a second straight year after winning just 5 games in 2007. They found success in this goal and in fact Tacoma opened the year at 5-0, and recently won five of their last seven, including beating Bellingham in an overtime thriller. Tacoma’s rock has been Dontay Harris (22G, 18.8pts, 11.5rbd, 4.5ast); after another great year Harris received his fourth All-Star selection. They also received another outstanding year from Lorenzo Rollins (21G, 16.4pts, 5rbd). The team’s leading scorer was Washington State product, Justin Murray (11G, 23.3pts, 9.4rbd) who finished 11th in the league in scoring. Those three players provided exactly what the club expected from veteran all-stars, but the team must have been a little surprised by the all-league type season turned in by rookie guard Antwan Williams (22G, 13.5pts, 5.9ast) who is currently 10th in the IBL for assists per game. Adding Antwan Williams to this cast of veterans and this new ownership group was the perfect mix to make the Tacoma Tide a contender for the IBL title. Tacoma won a round one match-up with the Central Oregon Hotshots but saw their season end at the hands of the 2009 champs from Bellingham in round two. 2009 All-Stars: Justin Murray, Antwan Williams, Lorenzo Rollins and Dontay Harris (this is Dontay Harris’ fourth All Star selection in five years of play and with this 2009 season complete, Dontay Harris is now— the new all time leading scorer in the IBL w/ 2213 points scored over five years of play just passing up Vancouver Volcanoes Kevin ‘Pip’ Bloodsaw who is now second with 2063 points scored over five years).
Branding teams fall into two categories: 1) old teams maintaining their brand (former teams in good standing that are planning to return to the IBL) and 2) new teams that made a down payment to the IBL to play a full season but they are not allowed to play a full season until they are fully accepted and fully ready to go. Both types of teams are called 'branding teams because their goal is to maintain a brand or to start a brand. A branding team is entitled to play 4 away games and 1 home game in their 'branding year'.
Games played by branding teams do count as regular season games for the IBL teams who play against them (normal wins and normal losses- in other words- these are real IBL games- not exhibition games). Some branding teams may stay in that branding mode for years. Tacoma will do a 'branding year' in 2011 to regroup from a tough year (2010 season) with regard to sponsorships and so now the Tacoma Tide ownership looks to add another owner to the mix or sell the team outright. If new ownership is found sooner than later, the Tide could play a full 20-game season in 2011, but in case this process takes time, Tacoma Tide ownership and the IBL will plan on the Tide playing 5-games in a 2011 'branding year'. Look for the Tacoma Tide's 5-game schedule to be posted soon; the Tacoma Tide's 1st game of 5 games is expected to occur in early May of 2011.
