The Friday SCS Lakers U14s started the Winter 2026 season with a clear objective and a reason to prove themselves. The Lakers came back to the court this past weekend with a new roster and championship goals after losing a close, heartbreaking game to the Phoenix Flames Firestorm in last summer's Finals. The team said goodbye to Lans as he moved up to the U16s, but they welcomed back Taj Singh, who was a key part of their championship run last winter, to strengthen their core. This mix of experience and drive led to a wonderful first game for the Lakers, who beat the Caversham Panthers Gold 56-13 at home to start the season 1-0.
The Lakers took charge of the game right away, going up 22-1 at halftime. Chris Wourman set the tone early by making the first basket of the game. This led to an offensive surge that the Panthers just couldn't stop. During this first half, the Lakers showed off their balanced offense and smooth ball movement. Muse Liban was especially helpful in building the double-digit lead, scoring 7 points. The defense was just as tough, holding the other team to one point in the first period and giving the Lakers the confidence they needed to go into the break.
Taj Singh owned the second half, scoring a lot of points to show that he was back in form. Singh had a pretty quiet first half, but in the second half he scored 21 points, including an impressive 11-point scoring streak. He showed off his elite versatility by scoring 23 points on 73% shooting, which was the most in the game. He did this by hitting both aggressive inside shots and a smooth three-pointer. Chris Wourman was the perfect partner for him, scoring 14 points on an incredible 86% shooting performance. He also made timely shots from beyond the arc that kept the Lakers' momentum going strong.
This strong start to the season showed how deep and selfless the team is. In addition to the main scorers, Muse Liban (9 points), Blake Prunster (4 points), and Sean Malveda (4 points) all made important contributions for the Lakers, making sure that everyone on the floor got quality shots. The Friday U14s showed they are ready to go after another title by scoring a lot of points and playing great defense that kept the Panthers to just 13 points. The Lakers have set a high bar for the exciting winter season ahead now that Taj is back and the pain of the summer finals is behind them.
Superstar of the Night:
Taj Singh - 23 Pts., 9 Rebs., 2 Asst., 2 Stls., 1 Blk., 11-15 Fgs., 1-2 3-Pt Fgs
Star in Your Role:
Chris Wourman - 14 Pts., 9 Rebs., 4 Asst., 6-7 Fgs., 1-2 3-Pt Fgs., 1-1 Fts