CUPERTINO — With 2:50 left, De Anza freshman guard Yuval Lewit cut toward an undefended basket. He leaped into the air for seemingly two-guaranteed points.
But in came freshman guard Coby Christensen. Sprinting from the top of the key, he soared toward Lewit. They met at the rim, with Christensen blocking the layup out of bounds.
He immediately turned to the visitor’s bench, mouth agape in astonishment. Christensen, at his 6-foot-1 height and 170 pounds, isn’t a stout shot-blocker. It was the first block of his collegiate career.
The following possession, he high-stepped up the court, crossed the ball in-between his legs, seizing up his defender. He side-stepped, leaned back and launched a long-range effort.
The heat-check missed long, hitting the back of the rim. Christensen’s movie-esque moment came up short. But the Hawks didn’t need him to make it — they were already up 27. They ultimately defeated the hosts 97-67.
The significance lay in Christensen’s confidence to be aggressive. He was brought in to be a threat from deep. Early in the season, he struggled to find his form.
Despite his struggles, Christensen stays consistent in the way he carries himself on and off the court. He understands the intensity of competing but always leaves room to enjoy his basketball.
Sophomore guard Sterling McClanahan, a captain and roommate, became pivotal to Christensen maintaining his belief. McClanahan took Christensen under his wing at the beginning of the season — leading by both example and instruction.
“I think we both hold each other accountable,” Christensen said. “We both love to work. We both love being in the gym and we love basketball. So when the slumps happen, when the confidence falls, we build each other up. We keep both of our heads on straight.”
Coming out of high school, Christensen averaged 23.5 points per game his senior year. This season, he averages 4.3.
His early-season struggles consisted of a four-game stretch where he failed to score any points. Another nine-game span saw him average 2.1 points. He’s shooting 21.7% from three this season.
Christensen’s efficiency problems continued against De Anza, as he finished 1-of-7 from the field while missing his four attempts from three. Six of his eight points came from the free-throw line, which he earned by drawing two fouls shooting from deep.
His improvement was found within the little things — rebounding, passing, defending — all of which he did at a heightened level. His three assists was more than he recorded in his last nine games combined, while his three rebounds tied a season-high.
“He’s got to continue to keep working hard,” head coach James Giacomazzi said. “The more he can contribute and give us off the bench, it’s going to make us even better.”
McClanahan suffered his own slump earlier in the season. In a span of four games, he averaged 6.7 points, while shooting 1-of-11 from deep. He’s responded by scoring 20 or more in three straight, including a team-high 26 against De Anza on Feb.19.
“(I) put in multiple workouts before a game,” McClanahan said. “It gives me the confidence, even when going through a slump, just knowing that the work is always going to show and I’m going to get over slumps.”
Despite the Hawks comfortable performance, they weren’t left without drama. In the first half, leading-scorer Elijah Mobley’s head hit the ground. He came in already dealing with a head issue. Giacomazzi decided to bench his star player with 17:56 remaining — much to the disappointment of Mobley.
With 12 minutes left, his frustrations overflowed. He became visibly upset on the bench, pushing his chair back while making his way toward the furthest bench-spot. When Giacomazzi or other Hawks tried to calm him down, it was clear Mobley wanted to be left alone.
“Not good,” Giacomazzi said of Mobley’s reaction. “But he’s a competitor and he wants to play. Sometimes you got to make decisions that are not understood in the moment. But he’s a guy that will go to sleep, wake up tomorrow and realize a little bit more of why we did what we did.”
Mobley usually provides energy along with his 18.7 points per game. With seven points to go along with his outburst, the Hawks were missing both.
The roommate pairing stepped up to carry the load together. McClanahan covered the scoring, Christensen brought the energy.
After every big-time play, Christensen yelled. Made a face. Flexed. Something to inject life into the Hawks on the court and on the sideline.
“We all love it,” McClanahan said. “I don’t know if you see me, but I’m over here running around the bench, hyped up. I love seeing effort plays, it brings so much energy.”
It’s a constant part of Christensen’s game. Whether he hits seven three’s or none, he’ll still always play the game with joy.
“At the end of the day, it’s a game,” Christensen said. “If you’re not enjoying it, there’s no reason to do it. Especially struggling and then coming into where I’m building the confidence, I just want to enjoy it as much as possible, being with my guys on the court. The smile got to come out.”
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TOP PHOTO: Sterling McClanahan (left) and Coby Christensen (right) celebrating at the end of the Hawks 97-67 win over De Anza. The pair are both gaining confidence, with Christensen looking to bring consistent production along with his energy. (Photo by Jakob Arnarsson/ The Express)
Jakob Arnarsson is the Managing Editor and Sports Editor of The Express. Follow him on X, formally Twitter, @JakobA2004
