FREMONT– The ball touched every player’s hands on the court. Freshman guard Ekam Sandhu dribbled it up with three minutes remaining in the first half, with the Hawks leading the game by 11. He got it to sophomore wing Kodey Weary near the baseline. Weary pivoted before firing a pass into Richard Banks’ right hand.
The sophomore guard took his time. He maneuvered it around Ohlone’s sophomore forward, Anthony Lacy. Banks turned his body around to pass to an open Cole Loud, then back to Banks. They were moving quickly.
Twelve seconds on the shot clock. Banks held the ball and saw Sandhu across the chaos. The ball flew into Sandhu’s hands. He drove in, getting stuck between three Ohlone defenders.
A collision popped the ball into the air. Freshman wing Ted Bigg-Wither tipped the ball right back to Sandhu, who, with his right hand, threw it backwards, for it to bounce up off the rim and land right into the net.
The Hawks’ groove won them this game. They beat Ohlone College 93-73.
Freshman Guard Jonathan Chapple returned to the lineup and didn’t miss a beat. He had been out with an injury for five games. His chemistry with Sandhu was visible in this matchup, the duo punishing the Renegade defense.
The Hawks were led by Banks, who set the tone within the first half. He finished with a season-high 21 points. His communication and relationship with Head Coach James Giacomazzi fueled the fire.
“At the end of the day, he knows I care about him, and he cares about me,” Giacomazzi said. “At the end of the day, he wants to win. I want to win, so we figure it out.”
Two regular-season games remain for Las Positas, including a rematch with conference rival City College of San Francisco, one of the two teams to beat the 24-2 Hawks. Now that Chapple has returned to the bench, and all players are healthy, they are in a good position for the postseason. Banks is expected to lead the team into a playoff run, and his execution of Giacomazzi’s vision is vital.
The impact of Chapple’s five-game absence, caused by a hamstring injury against San Mateo on Jan. 21, was evident on the court. His value comes in ball control, as he ranks 40th in the state in assist-to-turnover ratio and 64th in assists.
Against Ohlone, that control was restored. He and Sandhu’s chemistry allowed the Hawks to dictate the game.
“The two that really think about the whole game plan, and try to do it to the best ability every single second, are Ekam and Chapple,” Giacomazzi said. “They know what they have to do, but they just have to be good by their positioning and their knowledge of what needs to happen. That makes them very good players.”
At the core of it all stands Banks. Always behind him and in his ear, Giacomazzi. During games, there is visible communication between the two, all of it being blunt.
“Richard (Banks) is a very emotional person, and as am I,” said Giacomazzi. “We’ve had a lot of verbal discussions, some more animated than others, but at the end of the day, he knows I care about him.”
The intensity highlights a strong, healthy relationship. Giacomazzi entrusts Banks with the key to his plan.
“He’s gotten much better over the course of the year.” Giacomazzi said, “He’s always been like a combo (guard). He’s played on and off the ball, so we’ve asked him to play a little bit more on this year than ever. He’s done a good job overall.”
His largest growth has come within his passing. Last season, he averaged 2.6 assists per game. Now he averages 5.3. Something that’s been on display during these recent games, his highest tally being nine against Skyline.
As the regular season winds down, the importance of their final game against San Francisco continues to mount. A chance for one final declaration of their prowess before the postseason.
Banks, Giacomazzi, and the rest of these Hawks have just one goal in mind.
“The main focus… is to win the state championship,” Banks said, highlightingthe team values in this final stretch. “For us to win, we have to have good chemistry with each other, because if we don’t like each other, then there’s nothing.”
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TOP PHOTO: Sophomore guard Richard Banks (No. 4) goes up for the mid-range jumper. Banks helped lead the Hawks to a 93-73 road victory at Ohlone. Banks led the team in 3-pointers with three made. (Photo by Ian Kapsalis/The Express)
Annie Moore is the Sports Editor of The Express. Follow her on X @SanJosAnnie.
