The South Bay Lakers (10-2) had just come off a 148-144 win over the Northern Arizona Suns (5-8) ready to beat a hungry Sioux Falls Skyforce (6-6) team.
The South Bay Lakers faced off with a Sioux Falls Skyforce team looking to gain some momentum. The Skyforce had just handed the Agua Caliente Clippers (7-6) a loss at home, which was especially upsetting for coach Casey Hill since he was feeling great after beating the SB Lakers in their prior game.
One thing is for sure; the Skyforce can shoot. They were making about 50 percent of their field goals and 42 percent of their three’s in the first half. Former UCLA Bruin Larry Drew II is the floor general for the Skyforce, and he can really ball. Travis Wear and Drew II played together at UCLA for Drew’s senior year and Wear’s junior year.
However, this time, it was Torrey Craig (South Caroline Upstate) who had the hot hand and scored 25 points with four assists and seven rebounded for the Lakers, who were without Vander Blue. Blue was in street clothes, fly street clothes, on the bench.
On one play it took four of the Skyforce to guard Thomas Bryant, and instead of a foul call, he got charged with a turnover. A lot of heads were shaking on that one.
Los Angeles Lakers
For the Lakers, three players were in double figures by the end of the half: Travis Wear (10), Alex Caruso (12) and Stephaun Branch (10). The Lakers were down 72-60.
Caruso came out of the locker room hot and added 12 points in the third quarter. Still, the Lakers were down 13, 103-90.
Deep into the fourth quarter Bryant scored a much-needed slam dunk bringing the Lakers within eight points followed by a three from Scott Machado. The Lakers, now down by five, were slapped with a Drew three. You knew while it was in the air it was going in.
Travis Wear hit a key three followed by a Caruso three, and it was a three-point game, 128-125 in favor of the Skyforce.
Caruso had bothered Craig so much on defense. He literally shoved him down blatantly, then Bryant took the next possession to punish his opponent with a huge dunk. 130-127 with 30 seconds to go. Caruso stole the ball and took it baseline to baseline guarded by three of the Skyforce and was fouled, making both free throws. 130-129.
ONE POINT WITH 25.8 seconds to go!
It was any teams game to win, who would want it more?
The Lakers were forced to foul and ended up fouling Gaines, who hadn’t scored a point in the second half. Not until those two free throws at least.
The Skyforce 132, Lakers 129 with 11.9 seconds left, Lakers ball.
Machado hit a three-pointer to tie the game, but Lakers Head Coach Coby Karl had called a timeout before the shot. With 2.8 seconds left, the Lakers were still down three points.
Time to bite nails.
That is when Bryant, with ice in his veins, caught a cross-court pass, stepped behind the three-point line and sunk it as the clock hit 0.00!
OVERTIME! Bryant took a victory lap around the court pounding his chest. It was indeed a site to see and experience. I will admit, I clapped, even as a professional fan writing for FanSided, I honestly didn’t care who saw, it was worth it!
Caruso was balling out in overtime, with five fouls no less. He had 37 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds with 21.6 seconds left in the game. Lakers were up this time, by three, 135-132.
The Skyforce shot an airball, and the arrow was thought to be pointing to them, but on review, it was Lakers ball. This possession was critical! The Skyforce fouled Caruso with 10.4 seconds left, and AC Fresh made both!
Now with 39 points, Caruso had just widened the gap to five points, 137-132.
So what happened? Well, the Skyforce’s Tony Mitchell (Alabama) hit a three to give him the most points on his team with 32 and brought the score within two with 7.3 points left.
That’s when Wear sent the ball to Caruso under the basket for an easy two.
LAKERS WON 139-135.
We caught up with Caruso and Machado after the game to get their thoughts.
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The Lakers travel to Salt Lake City to play the Stars on December 11th at 6:00 pm for the second night of their back-to-back set.