The Friday SCS Lakers U12s' Winter 2026 season began this past weekend. The Lakers started their season with a 1-0 record after a high-energy home opener that lived up to the hype. They beat the SCS Falcons 46-25. The game started out as a tense back-and-forth fight, but the Falcons were able to tie the score at 6-6 early on. But that was as close as they would get because the Lakers quickly changed gears, found their rhythm, and went on an impressive scoring run that left the other team looking for answers. The Falcons were in the middle of a transition when they played the Lakers. They had lost important veteran players Jet and Elijah, and the Lakers took advantage of their established chemistry to build a 23-10 halftime lead.

 

The Lakers were able to win because everyone on the team scored and played for the team. Kenji Rico got things going early by making 6 of his 13 field goals for 13 points and being calm at the charity stripe, where he made all 2 of his attempts. Syd Malveda was a constant force in the paint, scoring 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting and fighting through constant fouls to make 4-of-7 free throws. The momentum grew even more in the second half, thanks to Jai Singh, who scored 13 points, including a clutch three-pointer that broke the defense's spirit and made the score 29-10. Singh's calmness was one of the best parts of the half, especially when he made both of his free throws.

 

The top scorers led the way, but the win really showed how deep the whole team was. Ethan Espiritu and Luke Jurey each scored two points, made important plays, and stopped the other team's offense whenever they needed to. The "Lakers Way" was on full display: their defense was so strong that the Falcons could only score 25 points, and their ball movement was so good that they always got high-percentage shots. The Friday U12s set a high standard for the rest of the season by the end of the game. The Lakers have made it clear to the league that they are disciplined, deep, and ready for the winter ahead. Three players scored in double figures, and every member of the team helped them win.

 

 

Superstar of the night:

Kenji Rico - 13 Pts., 4 Rebs., 5 Asst., 3 Stls., 6-13 Fgs., 1-2 Fts

 

Star in Your Role:

Syd Malveda - 12 Pts., 8 Rebs., 2 Stls., 4-8 Fgs., 4-7 Fts