South Bay Drops To Santa Cruz On Second Night Of Warriors Back-To-Back

The South Bay Lakers (3-5) fell to the Santa Cruz Warriors (4-4) 89-76 in Saturday night’s matchup. South Bay center Kylor Kelley posted yet another outstanding defensive performance, matching his career-high eight blocks with five of them in the first half alone. 

Kelley added a career-high two steals with 16 points, nine rebounds and three assists, while two Lakers players landed double-digit rebounds in the defensive pursuit. Forward Solomon Young tallied 14 boards with seven points and one assist, and guard DaJuan Gordon posted 12 boards with eight points, five rebounds and two steals. Forward Vincent Valerio-Bodon led the offensive end for South Bay and recorded a career-high 23 points with five rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. In the low-scoring battle, the Warriors’ 16 made shots from three overpowered the Lakers’ 11 made threes.

Santa Cruz forward Kevin Knox fueled Santa Cruz’s offense with 18 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals one block. Two-way guard Reece Beekman posted a double-double performance with 16 points and 10 assists and added seven rebounds, five steals and three blocks. Forward Blake Hinson scored 15 points off the bench with seven rebounds, one assist and one steal. 

The South Bay Lakers will play two games against Rip City in Portland, Ore. before returning home to play a back-to-back at UCLA Health Training Center. They first take on the Salt Lake City Stars Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. and then the San Diego Clippers the following day, Dec. 7, at 5 p.m. Fans can click here to purchase tickets.