SAN LEANDRO - Staring at a two-game losing streak and trailing at the half, host San Leandro used a big third-quarter to snap out of its skid and down Lowell on Monday night, 57-54.
The Pirates had lost back-to-back games to Alameda and Mt. Eden entering the non-league contest, and trailed by nine, 32-23, as the teams headed to the locker rooms. But San Leandro (10-4) outscored Lowell 25-12 in the third quarter, sparked largely by the play of underclassmen Tovale Tupouata and Jayonnah Carter.
The sophomore Tupouata and the freshman Carter each scored 14 points for the Pirates, who had nine different players get in the scoring column. Tupouata also had a big night on the glass, snagging 14 rebounds for a double-double.
San Leandro hosts Hayward on Jan. 9, while Lowell (6-6) looks to bounce back on Thursday, Jan. 10 against Balboa.
