SAN BRUNO — Heading towards the playoffs, the Hawks sought one last achievement. One more stamp on their resume. A conquest of vengeance.
So when the Hawks exited the Skyline Trojans’ court on the wrong end of a 77-74 final on Feb. 21, the feeling of deja vu haunted them.
On Jan. 29, the Trojans upset the Hawks 69-68, marking their first loss — usurping their search for a perfect season. The Hawks wished to return the favor — to ruin the Trojans’ Sophomore Night and end the regular season on a high.
Once again, the Trojans spoiled the Hawks’ desires. They produced more clutch plays down the stretch, becoming the only team to beat the Hawks twice. The Hawks’ hunger for revenge was left unquenched.
But the Hawks left unfazed. Their attention immediately turned to something greater — their postseason aspirations.
“You turn the page,” head coach James Giacomazzi said. “I think by practice time on Tuesday, they won’t even be thinking about this game. I know I sure as hell won’t be.”
The loss sees them end in a three-way tie for second place in Coast Conference North. The Trojans and the Chabot Gladiators both matched their 10-4 conference record.
In a physical contest, poor shooting and rebounding plagued the Hawks. They trailed most of the contest, battling back late to give themselves a chance.
Despite the disappointing end to the season, they are determined not to let it affect their postseason play. They believe close games make them stronger and more prepared for their playoff run.
The shooting struggles stemmed from the free-throw line. They shot 16-of-26 from the line. Sophomore guard Sterling McClanahan faced the most issues, going 6-of-11. He finished with 12 points, going 3-of-12 from the field.
“You’re a second-year sophomore captain, you freaking turn the page,” Giacomazzi said. “He’s had a few game stretch where he’s been outstanding. He has a little blip on the radar here — it happens to all of us. You just got to turn the page and learn from it.”
The Hawks finished with a season-low 24 rebounds and four offensive rebounds.
Bench production kept the Hawks alive. Sophomore guard Elijah Mobley, the team’s leading scorer, led the way with 20 of the Hawks’ 40 bench points. Freshman pairing Jaden Woodard and Coby Christensen added 11 and 9 respectively, each hitting two threes.
The Trojans outscored the Hawks from deep, hitting 8 compared to the Hawks’ 6. They were led by sophomore guard Achilles Woodson, who made 3 in his 19-point night. Woodson came up clutch in the team’s first meeting, converting an and-one to win the game in overtime.
It took similar late-game heroics to beat the Hawks in the rematch. With less than 30 seconds left, sophomore guard Brady Carson caught the ball on the left wing. He pump-faked, baiting Woodard to fly past him. After resetting his feet, Carson drained the long-range effort, giving them a 3-point lead with 22 seconds.
The Hawks’ last chance came with four seconds on the clock, with an inbound from behind the basket. McClanahan, the team’s most reliable 3-point scorer, had fouled out. It forced the Hawks to turn to Christensen.
He cut aggressively across the court, from the weak side toward the strong side corner. Once he caught it, he instantly rose up for a well-guarded 3-point attempt. His buzzer-beating attempt fell short, hitting the front rim.
It’s the kind of loss that stings a little bit more. Being so close to victory only to see it snatched away can leave a mark. But to these Hawks, who have already experienced so much success, losses like these can be even more impactful than wins.
“I’m proud of the way our kids fought,” Giacomazzi said. “We just came up against a good team in their home. But we’ll be alright when the playoffs hit. These things make you better in the playoffs.”
According to Giacomazzi, the loss shouldn’t heavily impact the Hawks’ standing in the NorCal bracket. They will at least be a top-eight seed, giving them a bye during round one. It guarantees them at least one home playoff game.
“Being able to stay at home keeps our mind off of the traveling,” sophomore guard Jorren Edmonds said. “I think it’s really good we were able to possibly secure two home games and I think it’ll help us focus better going into (the playoffs).”
If the loss pushes them outside the top four, it would require them to go on the road for the third round — the game that decides whether or not they make the state tournament.
It’s a challenge the Hawks feel prepared for. This season, they’ve proven capable of competing against anyone. Now, it’s time for them to put it all together on their quest for a state title.
“I think our style of play can cause some problems for teams that don’t see it a lot,” Giacomazzi said. “It’s gonna be a tough challenge for anybody that faces us. I’ve got confidence in our kids… We can get on a run and beat anybody that we play.”
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TOP PHOTO: The Hawks bench helping freshman guard Coby Christensen up against the Skyline Trojans on Feb. 21. Christensen missed a buzzer-beating shot that would have sent the game to overtime. (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
