South Bay Bounce Back In Showcase Cup Finale

The South Bay Lakers played in their AT&T 2022 NBA G League Winter Showcase Cup finale against the College Park Skyhawks as they won 115-111, on Wednesday afternoon. Devin Cannady led the Lakers (13-5) in scoring with 22 points. Jarret Culver paced the Skyhawks (12-6), scoring 24 points.

The first frame was back and forth, with both teams taking leads, and fighting their way back into the game. Bryce Hamilton scored eight first quarter points while Fabian White Jr. gave the team a great boost of the bench with seven of his own. South Bay led after one, 32-29. The second quarter provided much of the same, with both teams continuing to shoot the ball well and compete. Skyhawks guard Armoni Brooks came alive in the second period, scoring 14 points. Hamilton had 13 at the break, while Shaq Harrison had a near triple-double with eight points, eight rebounds and seven assists. The Lakers trailed 63-67. 

The third quarter was the first time any team built a significant lead, with College Park finding themselves up 10 points midway through the second quarter. As they always do, South Bay came storming back behind stellar defense which allowed them to get out in transition. Devin Cannady put up eight points in the quarter while White Jr. and Scotty Pippen Jr. both added five. Langston Galloway put up nine in the period for College Park. South Bay trailed 89-90 going into the final frame. 

Things were looking bleak in the fourth quarter with South Bay down 108-113. College Park had possession and only needed one more basket to win the game. Cannady then stole the ball from Galloway and hit a three-point shot. On the ensuing possession, Cannady hit another massive three to put South Bay up 114-113. Exceptional defense from Harrison on Culver gave South Bay the last stop they needed. Pippen Jr. drew a foul on the last possession and made his first free throw to ice the game. 

Harrison put together a final line of 11 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists. Cannady added 22 points and five rebounds, while Fabian White Jr. played his best game of the year, posting a line of 17 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and three blocks. For the Skyhawks, Culver put up 24 points, five rebounds and three assists. Galloway finished with 19 points. 

South Bay will play their first regular season game against the Birmingham Squadron on Thursday, January 5 at 7:00pm from the UCLA Health Training Center.