A Grand Opening! Las Positas Men Triumph In Costello Tip-Off Classic

The champs!
The Las Positas men's basketball team, ranked No. 10 in the CCCMBCA North Region preseason Poll, ruled the roost in the Tony Costello Tip-Off Classic this past week.
The Hawks, guided by head coach James Giacomazzi, defeated No. 11 Columbia 90-84 in the championship game at The Nest on Saturday evening. Tournament MVP Jordahn Johnson (Weston Ranch HS) led the way with a double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore guards Jalen Patterson (Liberty Ranch HS) and Isaiah Victor (Manteca HS) also made All Tournament for the Hawks.
The championship game was a rematch Round 3 of the NorCal Regional showdown last season, when No. 5 seed Las Positas prevailed over No. 4 Columbia 61-53 to earn a trip to the State Quarterfinals for the first time.
This triumph over Columbia capped a commanding week by the Hawks. They also thumped Simpson University JV 113-73 and No. 20 Los Medanos 103-94 in the Tony Costello Tipoff Classic. Johnson averaged 21 points a game and had a double-double with 24 points and 20 boards against Los Medanos. Victor was also outstanding against Los Medanos with 31 points (6 of 12 from 3-point range and 9/10 free throws); and Patterson just missed a double-double with 18 points and nine assists, and Jaden Phillips (Modesto Christian HS) had 17 points.
In the championship game, Victor shined in the bright spotlight with 20 points and five assists, and Patterson also soared with 18 points and nine assists.
Las Positas (3-0) will travel to Modesto Junior College at 5 p.m. Thursday in nonconference action.
MEN’S WATER POLO
After taking a thrilling win over Merced in the Coast Conference tournament, 8-7 in double-overtime, Las Positas (18-14, 4-2) fell to State No. 1 West Valley (26-1, 6-0) 16-7 in the championship game. Both games were played on Nov. 5 at West Valley.
The NorCal championships are Friday and Saturday, Nov. 11-12 at San Joaquin Delta, and the State Championships are Nov. 18-19 at Southwestern College.
Men’s soccer
The Hawks walloped visiting Monterey Peninsula 4-1 on Friday, Nov. 4.
Four Las Positas players scored goals: Victor Diaz, Grant LaFleur, Christian Neves and Dylan Ersham. Rylan Stowell had three assists and Grant’s brother, Griffin, added two assists. Ersham and Diaz also had assists in the convincing triumph.
Las Positas improved to 7-8-2 overall and are 2-6-1 in the Coast-South.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Midfielder Isabel Mello scored the tying goal in the 35th minute as Las Positas rallied for a 1-1 draw with visiting Evergreen Valley on Nov. 4. Mello was assisted by Tiffani Cheng and Cebrina Chagoya on the goal. Chagoya leads the Hawks in scoring with six goals this season, and Danielle Castro has a team-high nine assists.
The Hawks improved to 8-5-4 overall and are 2-2-3 in conference.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The Hawks (0-2) christened their ‘Welcome Back,” season under new head coach Caleb Theodore with two gritty efforts in defeats against San Jose and Siskiyous this past week.
In the opener against San Jose, Hawks freshman guard Ranaye Manu and freshman forward Monique Cavness were selected as Hawks of the Game.
Manu had 17 points, three rebounds and a block. Cavness was dominant on defense, amassing 11 rebounds, eight blocks and five points.
The Hawks will play their much-anticipated season home-opener against Los Medanos in the ‘Coaches vs. Cancer Pink Game’ at 3 p.m. on Friday.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Las Positas split contests this past week, including earning the Hawks’ second win of the season over host Contra Costa on Nov. 2. The scores were (3-1) 25-20, 23-25, 25-19, 25-20. Rachel Dayton led the Hawks with 17 kills and 30 digs. Jazmine Linzangan added 14 kills and 16 digs.
Sophia Kim also contributed 11 kills and 13 digs.
Las Positas is 2-16 overall and 1-6 in the Coast-North. The Hawks host Skyline in conference play at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9.