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PHOTO BY ROCKY ROSS

HEAD UP. Michael Claxton, shooting a free throw in a recent game, wants to finish the season strong.

Jazz’ Claxton keeps fire burning

Teammates and love of game fuel his renewable energy

By Rick Walter

Four years ago, Mike Claxton, a pretty good college basketball player who had put some time in on the courts in Europe, was visiting in Seattle and got wind of a semi-pro basketball league team that was starting in Tacoma. He was a good fit for the team – then known as the Thunder – and made the roster.

It was a good first season. Tacoma finished first in the West Division of the International Basketball League with a 12-6 record and three of Claxton’s teammates, Dontay Harris, Jimmy Haywood and Lamar Morinia, from Montana State (Claxton’s college),  made the all-star team.

The 2006 squad dropped to 11-11, and the 2007 team won only five games. With three games left in this season, the team’s record has improved from last season, a primary goal. But at 7-12, the playoffs are not in sight.

“We have been right there in all of our games,” Claxton said this week. “Everyone on this team feels like we are better than we have been playing. And I know we are.”  

His teammates are not big on moral victories, but two of the three remaining games on the schedule are against Bellingham, who at 15-3 is the best team in the league. A victory over the Slam before the season is over could leave a much better feeling going into a long off-season.

The last time the two teams met, Bellingham won, 117-110, in a bruising game. Claxton, who teaches physical education and coaches basketball at Seattle Academy, promises it is going to be no different this time.

“Maybe even more (physical). We jumped on them the last time, but they just had one more run in them than we did, I guess.”

Claxton carpools to practices and games with Jazz guard Marlon Bailey, one of his original teammates with the Thunder. Claxton, who had 19 against the Slam last time, and Bailey, who averages 12 points a game, would like nothing better than to be talking about a victory on the drive home to Seattle after the Sunday, June 22, game at Mt. Tahoma High School, their home court this season.

“We have competed with them right to the wire, and we know we can beat these better teams. It’s been frustrating,” he said.

Although the fortunes of the team have gone in reverse since Claxton began playing IBL ball in Tacoma, and this season isn’t fulfilling the expectations he and his teammates had, he feels personally fortunate to be playing basketball with a group of men he enjoys being around.

A couple of good wins to close out the season would be a welcomed and affirming emotion – but for a player who is pretty much breaking even after he fills up his gas tank before driving to the gym in Tacoma, a few cheerful slaps over anti-climactic victories would hardly reveal the depth of his attachment to this game he loves.

“Just to be part of basketball. Just to lace up my shoes in the locker room and go out and play with guys you love to play with, that is, you know, something I appreciate every day.”

But, he said, let’s be clear: to be heading into the right direction as the season ends, that wouldn’t hurt.

Jazz News & notes

The Jazz of Tacoma have three games remaining on the schedule and have two opportunities to pit themselves against the top team in their division, the Bellingham Slam. The Jazz travels to Bellingham for a game Saturday at 7:15 p.m., then hosts the Slam on  Sunday at 7:15 p.m. at Mt. Tahoma High School. The Jazz finish the season on Thursday, June 26, hosting the Edmonton Chill at 7:15 p.m.

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