South Bay Suffers Heartbreaking Loss

The South Bay Lakers played their eleventh home game against the Sioux Falls Skyforce as they fell, 133-135, on Monday night. Shaq Harrison led the Lakers (17-8) in scoring with 26 points. DJ Stewart and Mychal Mulder paced the Skyforce (14-11), scoring 36 points each.

The first quarter was competitive, with both teams finding a rhythm early. Skyforce forward DJ Stewart got comfortable in the first frame, scoring 15 points on 7-8 from the field. Bryce Hamilton led the Lakers with nine in the quarter. The second frame continued to be back and forth until the Lakers put together a quick 12-0 run to put them up 59-47. South Bay was able to build on this cushion throughout the quarter, going into the half up 13. Shaq Harrison stuffed the stat sheet in the first half, totaling 16 points five rebounds and four assists. Stewart led the Skyforce with 17 points. The Lakers led going to halftime, 75-62.

Sioux Falls started the third period on an 18-4 run, erasing South Bay’s lead taking a one-point advantage of their own just halfway through the quarter. South Bay just about held them off, taking a three-point lead into the fourth. Sioux Falls guard Mychal Maulder exploded for 16 points on five made three-point shots in the period. The Lakers led 104-101 after three.

Five straight points from Max Christie restored an eight-point lead for South Bay in the early part of the fourth. Up seven with six minutes left, Sioux Falls then went on a 19-7 run, going up five with a minute to play. Christie again responded with five straight points to tie the game with 24 seconds remaining. However, on the ensuing possession, DJ Stewart hit a tough fadeaway shot with two seconds left to give the Skyforce the win, 133-135.

Harrison put together a final line of 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, his second triple double of the year. Hamilton added 21 points, while Christie and LJ Figueroa contributed 16 points each. For the Skyforce, Stewart put up 36 points and six assists. Mulder also scored 36 points on 10 made three-point shots, the most any player has hit against South Bay this year. Justin Champagnie contributed 23 points and 14 rebounds.

South Bay will face off in a rematch against Sioux Falls on Wednesday, March 6, at 7:00pm from the UCLA Health Training Center.