Surf City Summary: This week’s Santa Cruz Warriors highlights

Team USA practices paying off

Since being selected to join USA Men’s Basketball FIBA World Cup Qualifying Team, Sea Dubs guard Damion Lee has missed a few Santa Cruz Warriors games. It turns out, however, that Lee’s involvement with Team USA may have actually been a blessing in disguise.

In 35 games this season with Surf City, Lee has averaged 15.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals on 44.8 percent shooting from the field. He’s played the part of sixth man for the Sea Dubs, leading the second unit in scoring numerous times.

In the team’s 141-117 win against the Northern Arizona Suns last Wednesday, Lee tallied 30 points, seven rebounds, four assists and one steal in just 29 minutes. He shot 10-of-15 from the field and 8-of-9 shooting from the free throw line, finishing a team-high +21 on the night.

Lee just seemed much more assertive and much more confident in this game, which could be related to his time with Team USA. Whatever the case, this is the kind of player Damion Lee needs to be for the Sea Dubs if they want to get back to .500 by the end of the year.