Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – The Rio Grande Valley Vipers (11-23) faced the South Bay Lakers (11-20) on Saturday night and fell 128-113.
RGV jumped straight to business as they led the game 13-7 over the Lakers. As the quarter continued, South Bay managed to take over the quarter 26-18 and maintained the lead until the end of the first quarter with a score of 31-24.
South Bay maintained the lead throughout the second quarter, however with 3:51 remaining on the clock Jarell Martin came off the bench and tied the game 54-54. The Vipers fought to maintain the lead, but South Bay scored 20 more points. Meanwhile, the Lakers’ defense only allowed RGV to score 10 points giving South Bay a 74-64 advantage at the half.Â
Jacobi Boykins led the first half with 17 points, three rebounds. Martin followed with 12 points and two rebounds. Pierre Jackson led the South Bay Lakers with 14 points and seven assists. Wayne Selden Jr. contributed 13 points, two assists, and two rebounds. Los Angeles Lakers two-way player Kostas Antetokounmpo and Zach Norvell added 11 points and five rebounds each.
The Lakers continued to extend their lead in the third quarter as the scoreboard reached 94-72. The Vipers were down by 22 points but not for long. Isaiah Taylor, Brandon Sampson, Martin, Boykins, and Kerwin Roach II contributed the missing 22 points and narrowed down the Lakers lead 100-93.
As the fourth quarter tipped off the Vipers were ready to take control and dominate the court. With 9:32 remaining in the game, Boykins closed off the Lakers lead by scoring a three-pointer that tied the game 103-103. Both teams battled it out in the fourth quarter. South Bay captured a 128-113 win over RGV.
Boykins finished with 22 points and five rebounds. Martin totaled 16 points and five rebounds. Roach II (two rebounds and three assists) and Sampson (three rebounds and two assists) hit 15 points. Sindarius Thornwell reached a double-double with 15 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists. Taylor joined the double-digits with 10 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.
Eight out of 10 players reached double-digits in scoring for South Bay; Pierre Jackson (21 points, three rebounds and seven assists), Selden Jr. (17 points, two rebounds and four assists), Norvell (17 points, 13 rebounds and three assists), Antetokounmpo (15 points, eight rebounds and three assists), David Stockton (14 points, three rebounds and four assists), LA Lakers assignee Talen Horton-Tucker (14 points, five rebounds and three assists), Devontae Cacok (13 points, seven rebounds) and Reggie Hearn (11 points and six rebounds).
The Vipers will travel to the Pabellón Insular Santiago MartÃn in Tenerife, Spain from Feb. 7-9 for the 2020 FIBA Intercontinental Cup. On Feb. 7 at 3:00 p.m. (CT) RGV will take on Iberostar Tenerife from Spain in the second semifinal game of the tournament. For more information, contact the RGV Vipers at 956-56-ARENA or visit www.rgvipers.com.
 faced the South Bay Lakers (11-20) on Saturday night and fell 128-113.){kind=link}