Las Positas Men Triumph At James Clark Classic

Las Positas College men’s basketball coach James Giacomazzi called it an “unbelievable finish.”

Indeed, the Hawks’ 79-74 win over Reedley in Saturday’s championship game of the 41^st annual James Clark Classic had a spellbinding quality as a large and enthusiastic crowd looked on at Cosumnes River in Sacramento.

The Hawks’ Wesley Burse was selected as Tournament MVP after averaging about a double-double in the Classic. LPC star Michael Hayes was an All-Tournament selection.

The Hawks led the exciting championship game by one with about a minute to go when Reedley drained an “unbelievable 3,” Giacomazzi recalled. “It was like a pitch NBA 3 and (he) nails it to put them up 2.”

After the Hawks tied the game with a layup, Las Positas forced a turnover to set up an extraordinary three-point play by Hayes with 15 seconds to go. Reedley never recovered.

“Michael made one of the best plays that I’ve seen in my career in terms of a catch, one dribble around two people and then dunked on a third and got a foul and one on the play,” Giacomazzi recalled. “What an unbelievable atmosphere. It was a playoff atmosphere, just a raucous environment.”

The Hawks, a three-time champion of the James Clark Classic, overcame about a 10-point deficit early in the game and forged to a two-point halftime lead. The enthralling second half was back and forth and wound to a memorable conclusion.

“It was big,” Giacomazzi said of the team accomplishment. “… The last game was like just a ‘Wow game.’ Reedley came in 8-2 and is really a different team. They can score in a variety of ways; they have multiple shooters on the floor at all times; they vary their defenses often; they vary their press; they vary their half-court defense.”

The resilient Hawks got the job done playing without key guards Nikko Echalas (ill) and Marquis Davison, who is expected to be cleared to play this week after suffering a broken finger before the season.

The Hawks (8-2) also defeated Feather River 84-59 and Merced 95-71 to advance to the final.

Against Feather River on Dec. 5, Hayes put on a clinic with 18 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals. Hayes was 8 of 11 from the field (73%). Burse and Tyler Langowski each had 17 points. Burse and Lee Jones, Jr. both had eight rebounds. Andrew Mork contributed inside with six boards.

AMAZING BURSE OF ENERGY: Giacomazzi gave Burse high marks for his impressive play over the three games. “He was incredible all weekend in all facets,” the coach said. “We had him guarding their best players, game in, game out. We had him in positions to score but also in positions to distribute, so his assists went through the roof as well, because he’s a smart, heady player.”

Giacomazzi loves how Burse, playing a point forward position, stays under control and “doesn’t panic.”

He scored when he needed it and passed when he was covered and rebounded, particularly offensively, “just tremendously,” the coach said. “… He was a great leader. He was positive. He was getting everyone together. It was his best weekend of his college career and he was rewarded for it.”

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The Hawks (4-6) dropped a pair of games in the De Anza tournament, falling to Marin 60-40 and Cabrillo 75-45. Bianca Camello had 13 points and Eme Espinoza had 15 rebounds against Marin. Brandy Robles had 10 from off the bench.

Espinoza, who is ranked 19^th in the state in rebounds with 11.3 a game, had a double-double against Cabrillo with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Kiara Jones led the Hawks with 13 points.