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HomeNewsArchivesRebels Run by Lakers 68-67 with Fourth-Quarter Rally

Rebels Run by Lakers 68-67 with Fourth-Quarter Rally

July 24, 2007 — The Running Rebels stormed back from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit Monday night to stun the Lakers 68-67.
Everything was looking good for the Lakers in the fourth quarter of the Choices Basketball Association (CBA) summer-league game. They were up by 11 points midway through the period and looked well on their way to victory when the Running Rebels, led by Luis Lopez and Calvin Blake, unleashed a barrage of three-pointers to get back in the game and eventually win the close contest.
The Running Rebels started fast in the first quarter as Rubio Haywood scorched the nets for 12 first-quarter points, giving his team a six-point advantage at the end of the period at 22-16. Shane Hodge kept the Lakers close by netting 10 points.
The Lakers turned up the defense in the second period of the low-scoring game, and they outscored the Rebels 19-12 to take a one-point advantage into the half at 35-34. Forward Robert Duck was the key contributor for the Lakers in the second quarter as he powered his way to 13 points while playing stellar defense to help his team gain the halftime advantage.
In the third period, the Lakers opened up leads as large as 10 points, but the Rebels always fought back to within striking distance. Although outplayed for much of that quarter, the Rebels only found themselves down six points at 50-44 when the quarter came to an end.
Blake hit a three-pointer to open the scoring in the fourth, bringing the Rebels within three at 50-47. But the Lakers then went on an 8-0 run and, after a steal and a layup by Duck, the lead climbed to 11 at 58-47. With about 4:40 left in the final quarter, the rebels began to rain three-pointers on the young Lakers.
Lopez hit his first long-range bomb of the quarter to get his team rolling. After a steal and a layup by Haywood, the Rebels pulled within six at 58-52. A put-back by the Lakers’ center, Roai Caesar, temporarily slowed the Rebels, but not for long. Three consecutive three-pointers by the Rebels put them in front 61-60 with 2:21 left in the game.
Lopez hit two and Blake had one of the bombs for the Rebels in the 9-0 run. A layup by Caesar and the Lakers enjoyed their last lead of the contest at 62-61. A 5-0 run highlighted by another Lopez three-pointer and the Rebels led 66-62. Another Lakers basket and the score now stood at 66-64.
The Lakers then had a chance to tie, but Allen Burke got fouled and only managed to hit one of two. His team still trailed 66-65 with 29 seconds left in the game. After the Lakers missed their last field-goal attempt, they had to foul as the clock was now their enemy.
The Rebels’ Blake missed both free-throw attempts, and the Lakers had another chance with 11 seconds left on the clock. They missed a shot, forcing them to foul again. This time the Rebels’ Nigel Bridgewater hit both of his free throws to give his team a little breathing room at 68-65. A quick two by the Lakers got them to within one at 68-67 with just two seconds left on the clock. The Rebels inbounded and the game was history as the clock quickly ran out.
Heywood led the Rebels with 23 points. Blake had 14 points and five steals, and Lopez finished with 16 points, nine assist and five steals. The Lakers had four players in double figures, led by Duck with 17 points and eight rebounds. Caesar had 12 points and two steals and Burke finished with 11.
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