EL SEGUNDO – The South Bay Lakers started their three-game homestand with a wire-to-wire win as they beat the Salt Lake City Stars, 118-109, on Saturday night. Johnathan Williams paced the Lakers (16-25) with a game-high 22 points and eight rebounds. Tyler Cavanaugh led the Stars (21-21) with 19 points and seven rebounds.
The Lakers got out to a big 12-point lead after one, behind 11 points in the first quarter from Williams. South Bay went into the half with a 60-47 lead as Jeffrey Carroll poured in nine points in the second period.
South Bay entered the fourth quarter with a 15-point lead, 89-74, as Travis Wear scored six points in the third quarter. The Stars made things interesting in the fourth quarter, but the Lakers were able to withstand their runs, as Jemerrio Jones scored nine points in the final frame to put the finishing touches on the victory.
Justin Reyes scored a team-high 21 points off the bench as Cavanaugh paced the starters with 19 points. Jairus Lyles finished with 15 points, six rebounds and eight assists, while Isaac Haas tallied 16 points. Tanner McGrew (14 points) and Tre-Shaun Fletcher (11 points) also finished in double figures for the Stars.
Williams finished with 22 points for his 12th 20-point outing of the season and Scott Machado grabbed his eighth double-double with 16 points and 11 assists. Wear tallied 19 points and Isaac Bonga recorded 15 points, eight rebounds and two steals. Jones ended the night with 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists and Carroll also scored in double figures with 11 points.