Las Positas sports roundup: Men's baskeball, soccer reports

They’re young. They’re tall. They’re balanced, and they’re excited to get the season started.

The Las Positas men’s basketball team, ranked No. 7 in the state CCCMBCA preseason poll, will host the eight-team Tony Costello Tip-Off Classic Thursday through Saturday. The tourney field also boasts state No. 10 ranked Butte and No. 20 Diablo Valley College, along with Columbia, Contra Costa, Sacramento City, Siskiyous and Simpson JV.

The Hawks, who finished 22-8 last season under coach James Giacomazzi, will open against Siskiyous at 5 p.m. Thursday, with the winner advancing to Friday’s winners-bracket semifinals at 7 p.m. The championship game is Saturday at 4 p.m.

Las Positas has a stout cast of forwards, led by 6-foot-10 returner Anand Hundal of Manteca High, 6-foot-10 Peter Hewitt, a transfer from UC Davis, and 6-foot-8 J.T. Branch, a Marin transfer out of Antioch High.

Heady Dougherty Valley graduate Jushan Samra, at 6-foot-4, has added strength heading into his sophomore season. Freshman Alafia Oluwusogo, at 6-foot-5, out of American High and Impact Academy Prep, is a strong and athletic newcomer. Giacomazzi, who has just three returners, describes all of his forwards as “pretty darn good.”

The Hawks backcourt boasts returning sharpshooter Nick Evans of Freedom High and freshman point guard John Ketchel, also of Freedom.

Las Positas has some solid players on the bench as well, so others could easily emerge as the season unfolds.The Hawks are looking to build on two successful seasons under Giacomazzi, who has a 41-18 overall mark (15-9 in the Coast-North). They beat DVC 87-71 last season in the second round of the regional playoffs after besting West Hills-Coalinga 66-57 in the second round the previous season.

MEN'S SOCCER

Matt Dremalas and Matt Hafizi scored for the red-hot Hawks.

The Hawks (11-3-5, 7-0-3) were coming off back-to-back 2-0 shutouts against Foothill and Ohlone.

Jake “Cowboy” Foscalina and Nick Tucker scored against Foothill. Dremalas and Omid Eibagi scored against Ohlone. Goalkeeper Brannon Dwyer worked both shutouts.