South Bay Lakers: Get to know Michael Holyfield and latest news
The South Bay Lakers have won three out of their last four games, and are hopefully on a roll after beating the Rio Grande Vipers on Friday night.
The South Bay Lakers return after a very successful two-win stand at the NBA G-League Showcase in Toronto Canada. But they returned without last years D-League MVP Vander Blue. Blue was on a two-way contract which the Lakers filled with Gary Payton II (Oregon State). Payton is allowed 23 days with the Lakers.
In the Showcase, the SB Lakers had Alex Caruso (22 points) with them, and he and Travis Wear (double-double) led the team in the second game against the Lakeland Magic. In game one against the Long Island Nets, seven SB Lakers scored in double digits. The SB Lakers improved their record to 16-10 on the season.
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Andre Ingram, a nine-year veteran, made progress on the all-time G-League scoring list on Dec. 30 moving into the top 10. Scott Machado ranks second in assists in the league with 8.1, and on Jan 4 earned his ninth double-double.
Caruso is just plain balling, having 13 assists in one game, seven steals in two games and against the Sioux Falls Skyforce, scored 41 points and dished 12 dimes.
Tonight the SB Lakers took on the Iowa Wolves. Notable players on the Wolves: Melo Trimble (Maryland), Amile Jefferson (Duke) and Anthony Brown (Stanford), but it was Elija Millsap that stole the show in the first half. Millsap shot 50% and scored 16 points. Brown and Jefferson scored 12 points each and led the Wolves over the Laker 67-53 going into the locker room.
Even though both Caruso and Payton II were supposed to suit up they weren’t in the building; they were off playing with the Lakers. The SB Lakers were missing the duo and Blue who was known as a player who could bring the team back. Wear led the SB Lakers with 14 points. Machado scored five points and added nine assists. The team would need to get into a groove in the second half if they had a chance to win.
The SB Lakers would go on to lose to the Wolves by 34 points in a disappointing loss but would back that up with a great win over rival Rio Grande Vipers (Houston’s affiliate). Interesting to note, when the SB Lakers play the Vipers, there is a reunion of sorts with Lute Olson’s products grandson Matt Brase and his assistant coach Joseph Blair coach against their former Arizona Wildcats teammate SB Lakers assistant coach Isaiah Fox.
In the 117-114 win on Friday night over the South West division No. 1 ranked Vipers (18-11), Thomas Bryant loaded the scoreboard with 23 points. Lakers fans came out in support on Facebook during the game wanting to see him get minutes on the Lakers squad.
Stephaun Branch was on fire as he logged a career-high 22 points adding nine rebounds, and four steals. Also for the South Bay Lakers, who remain No. 1 in the Pacific Division at 17-11, Scott Machado scored his tenth double-double (14 points, ten rebounds), Travis Wear scored 17 points, and Ingram was perfect from three-point land (4-4).
The Lake Show Life enjoys learning more about the players on the SB Lakers roster, so this week we picked out forward Michael Holyfield. Holyfield, a 6-foot-11 264-pound Sam Houston State product, returned to the team from last season, he also played in China and Australia. Find out what he thought of the food in China and what they tried to make him eat.
Next: 50 Greatest Players In Lakers Franchise History
The South Bay Lakers get a week to train, practice and get ready for the 12-14 Windy City Bulls who they will take on Friday, January 26 at 7:00 pm. The Bulls are sitting in fourth place in the Central Division where the Fort Wayne Mad Ants reign supreme.