South Bay Lakers: Gary Payton II earns triple-double in win over Bulls

The South Bay Lakers beat the Windy City Bulls 126-119 in a great team effort. Gary Payton II logs a triple-double off the bench in his debut.

Gary Payton sat courtside, as I predicted, to watch his son, former Oregon State Beaver, Rio Grande Viper and Wisconsin Herd guard, debut for the South Bay Lakers. They were not disappointed.

Gary Payton II is on a two-way contract, taking the place of Vander Blue and came out guns blazing in his debut earning a triple-double. Payton II’s triple-double was the first of the season for South Bay (18-11), and he did it coming off the bench.

The last time I remember watching Payton II play, he scored 51 points against the D-Fenders with his dad and Blue exchanging jabs the entire game. The 51 points were a site to see, one you don’t forget!

Payton II has a connection with Coby Karl. Gary Payton played for George Karl on the Seattle SuperSonics. Payton II is playing for George Carls son Coby Karl, the head coach of the South Bay Lakers.

The senior Karl had written a book where he wrote about Carmelo Anthony, and it wasn’t nice. Payton came out and defended Anthony. But they must have put that all behind them.

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Payton’s numbers at halftime were pretty well rounded. He scored seven points, dished four assists and grabbed five rebounds. Travis Wear has to give up minutes when both Ivica Zubac and Thomas Bryant play on the SB Lakers. Zubac was the leading scorer with 15 points and two blocked shots. We love when Zublocka shows up.

Scott Machado is frequently the unsung hero playing lockdown defense and guiding traffic on the court with no-look passes finding the open man.

The SB Lakers went into the locker room at halftime up 62-54. South Bay was up by 20 in the first, 39-19, behind back-to-back Payton II three’s and Ivica Zubac scoring in the paint.

The SB Lakers were able to stay in the lead the entire second half. They played fantastic defense and played as a team even though there was a new mix of players for the night.

When Zubac and Bryant were on the court together, it gave the guards someone to get the ball too. Then when Wear plays, he is so versatile and dialed in, he can offer the spark to give the team more energy when needed.

Windy City Bulls guard Antonio Blakeney scored 42 points and grabbed eight rebounds to keep the team in the game, but to no avail.

It was a prolific night offensively for the South Bay Lakers as eight players scored in double digits to beat the Bulls 123-116. The team as a whole logged nine blocks in this defensive showcase to boot.

• Payton II: Triple-double:14 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists)
• Zubac: 25 points, eight rebounds, five blocks (TEAM HIGH)
• V.J. Beachem: 19 points, 5-8 from three-point range
• Demarcus Holland: 12 points, seven rebounds, two steals
• Scott Machado: 12 points, eight assists
• Andre Ingram: 14 points, 4-6 from deep
• Wear: 13 points, four rebounds, four assists
• Stephaun Branch: 11 points, seven rebounds
• Bryant: nine points and a career-high six assists

We spoke to Machado and Ingram post game to get some fantastic insight (highlights included):

V.J. Beachem ended the night making five out of eight three’s, Ryan Young caught up with him after the game.

Next: 3 Most Important Questions For Lakers In 2018

Oklahoma City Blue come to the UCLA Health Training Center to take on the South Bay Lakers on Sunday, January 28 at 5:00.