Hawks Hoops: Johnson, Phillips hit 30 each; Cavness leads state

Las Positas basketball report

The Las Positas men’s basketball team, ranked 18th in the CCCMBCA Top 30 poll, improved to 11-4 on the season with a rousing win over host Canada 100-87 on Jan. 6 in the Hawks’ Coast-North Conference opener.

Jaden Phillips and Jordahn Johnson had brilliant efforts in the triumph at Tony Costello Court, each with 30 points and double-digit rebounds. Johnson was 13 for 17 from the field, along with 11 rebounds, two steals and four blocks. Phillips was 5 of 7 on 3s, along with 10 rebounds and three assists.

It marked the Hawks’ first 100-point effort since a 103-94 win over Los Medanos on Nov. 4 in the Tony Costello Tip-Off Classic.

The Hawks will host No. 2 City College of San Francisco (13-2, 1-0), the defending state champion, in the Coast-North at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 9 -- a game rescheduled from Jan. 4 due to poor weather.

Jalen Patterson piloted the offense against Canada with 16 assists, two steals and five rebounds. After trailing by two points at halftime, Las Positas broke it open with a sterling 59-44 run in the second half.

The Hawks also rode a massive second-half effort in a win over Marin 94-83 in Livermore on Dec. 30 to complete nonconference play, outscoring the guests 58-46 in the second half to erase a one-point halftime deficit.

Isaiah Victor led the Hawks with 23 points, and Johnson had a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Phillips had 18 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

GETTING CLOSER: Las Positas, which advanced to the State quarterfinals last year for the first time, has been nipping the heels of state juggernaut CCSF the past few seasons, including finishing solo second to the Rams last season. Las Positas finished 27-4 last season, and CCSF was 32-1.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Ranaye Manu (Fr., Patterson) had 20 points and Monique Cavness (Fr., El Cerrito) had 20 rebounds for Las Positas in a loss to visiting Monterey Peninsula 65-44 in an interdivisional Coast Conference battle on Jan. 6.

The Hawks showed improvement in the final two quarters, matching Monterey Peninsula 21-21.

The freshman Cavness leads the state in rebounds, averaging 17.3 a game.

Last Positas will host CCSF at 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 9, in the Coast-North opener, and then will host College of San Mateo on Wednesday, Jan. 11.

The thin Hawks squad had one substitute available for the Monterey game. Tiana LaFleur, also a soccer player for the Hawks, came off the bench to grab five rebounds and one steal.