Sports
By Mike Wood: Las Positas Opens With Costello Tip-Off Classic
Coach James Giacomazzi's deep team is ranked No. 5 in Preseason Top 25; will face Butte on Thursday.
Live basketball is back at Las Positas College. And what better way to welcome it back than by honoring one of its most beloved coaches.
The Tony Costello Tip-Off Classic, which starts Thursday, Nov. 4, marks the return to The Nest for the first official basketball game action since February 2020.
Las Positas, ranked No. 5 in the Northern California Preseason Top 25, played two scrimmages last May as part of the shortened spring season and has had recent scrimmages with Sonoma State and Pacific Union, a Division II NAIA school that the Hawks had a strong performance against, Las Positas coach James Giacomazzi said.
Honoring the late Costello, who Giacomazzi remembers fondly dating back to serving on the CCCMBCA board together, is “without a doubt” a great way for the return to live game action. It’s a strong bond and the weekend marks a way of remembering Las Positas’ first men’s basketball coach.
“We had so many great conversations,” Giacomazzi said. “A great man and a great family.”
Giacomazzi, who doubles as the Las Positas athletic director, has invited members of Costello’s family to attend. “It’ll be a really good weekend.”
Face coverings are required for entry to the indoor event. The Tip-Off is free of charge.
“We’re not charging,” he said. “We’ve been off for quite a while so we wanted to make it free so people can stop by and enjoy and see what we’re doing."
In the round-robin format, Las Positas faces Butte, ranked 20th in the preseason top 25. Tip-off is at 6 p.m. Thursday.
“We have had a lot of really good games with them over the years and we’re expecting a good, competitive game,” Giacomazzi said.
That will be followed by games with Sacramento City at 5 p.m. Friday and College of the Siskiyous at 4 p.m. Saturday.
“We don’t get to see a lot of the teams from the Northern area, so this is a great opportunity for that,” Giacomazzi said.
As the Hawks, they are rounding into shape, dealing with a couple of ankle injuries.
“We have 15 on the roster, so we’re a deeper team,” Giacomazzi said.
The following week the Hawks will host Modesto at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10 and Merritt at 3 p.m. Saturday Nov. 13.
Las Positas opens conference play on Wednesday, Jan. 5 at Ohlone at 7 p.m.
“It’s going to be hot and heavy with a couple of games each week,” he said. “We are looking forward to this.”
