Sonics’ boom rocks Lakers

NOT IN HERE! Sonics forward Dwayne Kellman (No. 8) emphatically denying Akeem Williams (left) a lay-up. ((Pictures by Kenmore Bynoe.))

By by JUSTIN MARVILLE | Thu, July 26, 2012 - 12:02 AM

IT’S A POTENTIAL FINALS MATCHUP that many might not look forward to.

Lakers included.

Don’t hand the title back to Premier League basketball’s reigning champs just yet, or overlook Roll-A-Way St John’s Sonics either.

The Sonics announced themselves as serious title threats ahead of next month’s postseason via Tuesday’s notice-serving 69-65 victory over Lakers at the Wildey Gym.

It was the much needed statement win for a team wanting one all season, with St John’s constantly being overlooked by everyone in favour of the more popular picks.

Well, at least one group will be paying attention now.

Whether figuratively or literally, Akeem Marsh and George Haynes proved to be big problems for an overwhelmed Lakers’ frontcourt that came up short on both height and impact against Sonics’ twin towers.

At one point the two six-foot-nine forwards accounted for 13 of a 22-point Sonics stretch in the second quarter – and this had nothing to do with the baskets they assisted on.

They even led by as many as eight (31-23) in that period while every Lakers forward struggled to keep St John’s dynamic duo off the glass and scoreboard during a menacing run that threatened to take the game away from the champs.

Please read the full story in today’s DAILY NATION, or in the eNATION edition.