The Hawks won their home tournament, the Tony Costello Tip-Off Classic, beating Cosumnes River 83-61 in the championship game. It capped a dominant weekend in which Hawks won all three games by an average of 23.3 points.
Crucial to the Hawks’ success was their aggression on defense. They played with their foot on the gas, constantly pressuring teams full court and pushing to force mistakes. Their aggressive playstyle allowed them to keep the physicality of Cosumnes River in check.
“Cosumnes Rivers is going to win a lot of games,” Giacomazzi said. “They’re very, very good, and luckily we just played so hard, and I think when you play hard, good things are gonna happen. You play through some mistakes.”
It’s an identity the Hawks are looking to hang their hats on. Last season, the Hawks held their opponents under 60 points four times. In the tournament, they did it twice.
“Playing hard, beating everybody by 20 means a lot to everybody,” said sophomore Jorren Edmonds, who was named all-tournament. “Start off the year right, especially in our own tournament.”
The tournament began with a rematch against the Los Medanos Mustangs — the same program that upset the Hawks in the first round of the playoffs last season.
It doesn’t makeup for the heartbreak LMC delivered back in March, but the Hawks got revenge. This time, they blasted Los Medanos 89-59.
A clear example of the team’s growth was Elijah Mobley, the Hawks’ best player. The last time he faced Los Medanos, he went 1-for-9 shooting and finished with five points. Coming into the rematch, Mobley had an extra chip on his shoulder. He wanted to show his growth, his improvement from a long and dedicated offseason.
He showed out, scoring 21 points while averaging 24.3 points throughout the tournament. He was named tournament MVP.
“I set a goal for myself.” Mobley explained. “I want to carry these guys to a championship win even if it’s not scoring a lot of points, just being a vocal leader, defensive wise, like on the court, off the court, being a great teammate, I feel like it just means a lot. And I wouldn’t be able to do it without my teammates.”
M-V-P! M-V-P!: Elijah Mobley (No. 23), the Hawks sophomore guard, Euro-steps on a drive to the basket. (Photo by Jakob Arnarsson/ The Express)
Sophomore Mecca Okereke was also named to the all-tournament team.
The Hawks showed clear development from last year, as they look to avenge last year’s early playoff exit with a deep run come March.
“It’s exciting to know where we are today,” head coach James Giacomazzi said, “but (also) where we can ultimately end up when we figure everything out.”
The Hawks have one of the best problems a team can have — depth. While it gives the Hawks multiple options to go score and lead the team, it also can create issues with playing time.
“I think we’re super deep,” Giacomazzi said. “We have talent, so hopefully that leads to success. Sometimes it’s hard though. You’re a star in high school and now you’re coming off the bench, or you have a different role. You got to just try to be great in those minutes that you do get, and then those minutes will then increase.”
The Hawks believe that if they buy in, play unselfish and ride the hot hand while continuing to play with their aggressive mentality on defense, they can compete with anyone.
While the team’s result has them excited for what they can achieve this season, the Hawks also took the time to celebrate this win, and the man the tournament has been named after.
The Tony Costello Tip-Off Classic was originally called the LPC Tip-Off Classic but was changed in honor of Tony Costello, LPC’s first head coach of the program in 2005. Castillo led the Hawks to multiple playoff appearances and is known for his significant contributions toward the overall sports community of college basketball. Costello passed away in August of 2013 of cancer.
“He was a great, great role model and a class act that I had an opportunity to have a friendship with, that I got to work with at a state level within the coaches association, where I got to know his family and become friends with them,” Coach Giacomazzi said. “And so, in moments like this, I really kind of sit back and think about his impact to Las Positas college and really appreciative of all that I learned from him.”
Assistant Coach Anthony Haskett also says this championship win shouldn’t be taken lightly.
“In the locker room, we said the guys are gonna go down in LPC history like this goes in the record books,” Haskett said. “So, this is something that I hope they will remember for the rest of their lives.”
For the Hawks, they hope this is just the start.
TOP PHOTO: Sterling McClanahan and Mecca Okereke raise up the Tony Costello Tip-Off Classic trophy in celebration with their teammates. (Photo by Jakob Arnarsson/ The Express)
Francis Kennedy is the Sports Editor for The Express. Follow him on X, formally Twitter @kennedy_aloisf.
