South Bay Lakers Clinch Playoff Spot

TITLE: SOUTH BAY LAKERS CLINCH PLAYOFF SPOT

The Austin Spurs (8-21) fell short to the South Bay Lakers (20-9), 121-123, at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park on Thursday night. 

Chaundee Brown Jr. led the Spurs with 26 points and 7 rebounds. Julian Champagnie notched a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Olin Carter III chipped in 18 points, 9 assists and 5 rebounds. 

The Lakers took the lead by 10, 32-22, in the first frame. The Spurs fought back in the second quarter with Carter III knocking down back-to-back threes with a free throw to go on a 13-9 run to end the first half, cutting the deficit down 11 points (54-65). Austin took control of the third frame and outscored the Lakers 32-26 as they went 50% from the charity stripe while South Bay shot 52.2% from the field, making it a five-point game with the Lakers in the lead, 91-86. The Spurs opened the fourth quarter with a 10-6 run with 9:06 remaining to cut the deficit to two, 96-98. Both teams traded buckets as the Spurs recorded an 8-0 run with 0:32 seconds remaining, down by just one, 117-118. Though Austin won the quarter (35-32) it wasn’t enough as Cole Swinder’s free throws with 0:05 seconds left helped seal the win for South Bay. 

Swinder led South Bay with 23 points. Devin Cannady and LJ Figueroa both notched 18 points. Scotty Pippen Jr. chipped in 16 points and 8 rebounds in the Lakers win.