Las Positas had one more chance.
With seven seconds remaining, and trailing by two points, the Hawks designed a play for sophomore guard Jaden Woodard, their leading scorer. He came into the game having scored 20 points or more four times and averaged 16.3 points per on 51.9 percent. Scoring is his role on these Hawks.
So Woodard received the inbound pass and went to his strength — a physical drive to the basket. All game, and all season, he made his money finishing through contact. But instead of shooting, Woodard seemed out of sync. Off balance. The moment lingered until the clock ran out.
Just like that, the men’s basketball team’s 13-game win streak was over with a 71-69 loss to visiting San Jose.
So the Hawks head into the Coast Conference-North part of the schedule at 14-1, ranked No. 7 in the latest state rankings and feeling the sting of defeat for the first time.
Even with the defeat, to a team ranked No. 27 in California, the Hawks find themselves sitting pretty, especially considering LPC was forced to rebuild the roster in the offseason — a process that reshaped both its identity and leadership.
Two reserves returned. Woodard has taken over as the hub of the offense. Guard Richard Banks is entrenched as a leader. And that’s it. Even assistant coach Anthony Haskett left. Head coach James Giacomazzi started from scratch after the loss to Citrus College in March that ended their season.
But as the calendar flips, the Hawks find themselves in a similar situation. 13-1. Ranked. Ascending. What happened between their last defeat and their next game seems to have worked like a charm. The current group, infused with new talent and new assistant coaches, has thrived. The struggles that come with starting over haven’t cost him games.
“It’s a lot,” Giacomazzi said “It’s personalities. It’s ability. It’s game. It’s skill level. There’s a lot to it. It’s like a big stew, and you have to have the right ingredients, otherwise it ain’t gonna taste very good.”
The savoriness of these Hawks has been driven by a shift in philosophy. Rather than replicating last year’s recipe, the Hawks leaned into length, physicality, and versatility — creating a team capable of winning in multiple ways. With new roles across the lineup, the team was forced to build chemistry quickly. They had to establish a new identity on the fly.
If Las Positas — ranked No. 7 in the state in the latest 3C2A poll — is this good now, what is the ceiling of this team? The coming Coast Conference schedule will give the Hawks a new stage of development. Five of their remaining 15 games are against teams ranked in the state. That does include two rivalry games against Chabot (10-3).
Is this new collection good enough, has it jelled fast enough, to continue cruising through its schedule? Even if not, the Hawks can take solace in the fact they are still in the beginning stages of reaching their peak.
“I think there’s a good balance of recognizing the accomplishment that we’ve done,” Giacomazzi said, “and then also the acknowledgement that we still want to continue to get better as a team. So I think both can be true.”
JADEN WOODARD has taken over as the Hawks leading scorer. He’s leading the third-best offense in the state as Las Positas averages 88.1 points per game. (Photo by Alan Lewis/ Special to The Express)
Starting from scratch
Last season marked a high point for the program, with a roster that grew together and pushed the program into new territory. The Hawks started last season 20-0 and finished 26-5, went 10-4 in conference play, and reached the state tournament for only the second time in program history.
Then it was gone.
Following the March loss to Citrus College that ended their season, almost the entire core of that team moved on. All five starters, rotation players, and veteran contributors who powered the Hawks’ historic run were no longer in uniform.
Giacomazzi had a clean slate and the memory of what had just been accomplished. The departure of so much experience closed a chapter that helped define the program. The success of the 2024-25 season raised some expectations, but it also showed how difficult sustaining that success would be. The clear end of one era and the uncertain beginning of another.
The early challenge for Las Positas was not replacing wins, but building functionality. Giacomazzi and his new staff entered the offseason knowing that replicating last year’s blueprint was not realistic. Instead, they needed a new vision.
“Every year has its own vision because of the returners that you have from the previous year,” Giacomazzi said. “This year, the vision was to try to create as much length and athleticism as we could, because we do like to play fast.”
That vision quickly took shape. The non-conference schedule saw the Hawks pair offensive efficiency with defensive presence.
Las Positas, through 14 games, tied with Santa Ana for No. 3 in scoring among JUCO programs in California with an average of 88.1 points per game. On the defensive end, the Hawks allowed an average of 60.2 points per game, which was third-lowest in the state.
The Hawks also rebound at a higher rate than last season. They are outrebounding opponents by an average of 13 boards per game, the sixth-highest rebound margin in the state. Last season, it was 3.2 per game, good for No. 32 in California.
Most importantly, despite their newness together, the Hawks have shown versatility in how they can cause problems for opponents.
“This team is unique because I think that we can win in a variety of ways,” Giacomazzi said. “Last year we had to win a certain way. This year, I think we can play fast, we can play slow, we can play big, we can play small. We are super versatile.”
Behind that versatility is a revamped coaching approach. Player development, film breakdown and recruiting coordination allowed practices to be more intentional and teaching-focused. The emphasis shifted toward daily habits like effort, preparation, and accountability rather than those immediate results.
That approach helped accelerate trust, especially with newcomers. Players like Kodey Weary and Ted Bigg Wither earned starting roles almost immediately. Not because of reputation, but because of consistency.
“I would say it is their actions,” Giacomazzi said. “They do it every day in practice, they watch film, they did it in the preseason. What made me trust them is their actions that led to me having faith and confidence in what they can do and what they can bring to the team.”
Recruiting also required flexibility. Some targets chose four-year programs or different junior colleges, forcing the staff to adapt later in the process. But that adaptability proved itself to be valuable.
“Some guys went somewhere else, so we had to kind of go lower on the list. And that is how we got guys like Mason late, or Ted and those guys.” Giacomazzi said.
Roles were clearly defined early, allowing players to play confidently. Chemistry followed.
“Everybody is really important on our team and how they contribute game in and game out.” Giacomazzi said.
Las Positas established structure quickly. The rebuild did not just function. It flourished. Setting the foundation for a team still discovering how good it can become.
Instant chemistry
The transformation of Las Positas did not happen by accident. It was the result of intentional decisions. Giacomazzi and his staff evaluated not just who they lost, but what kind of team they could become. With only a handful of returners, the idea of recreating last year’s style no longer made sense. Instead of prioritizing speed and shooting first, the staff shifted toward length, size, and versatility. The goal was to build a team that could defend the rim, rebound consistently, and adjust to different opponents.
“Every year has its own vision because of the returners that you have from the previous year,” Giacomazzi said. “We did not have a lot, so we kind of thought we needed more size, more ball handling, and more depth at multiple positions.”
Recruiting reflected that shift. Length, defensive instincts, and willingness to accept leadership roles became priorities.
“We have identified a top 10 in each position that we like,” Giacomazzi said.
Kodey Weary emerged later in the process, but his size, effort, and approach aligned perfectly with what the Hawks were trying to build. Trust was not given automatically. It was earned through daily habits.
“I would say it is their actions,” Giacomazzi said. “They do it every day in practice, and they watch film. What made me trust them is their actions that led to me having faith and confidence in what they can do and what they can bring to the team.”
As roles became clearer, chemistry followed. The Hawks did not need a long adjustment period because expectations were consistent across the roster. Players understood how they fit and what was required of them. That clarity allowed the team to come together faster than expected.
The result has been a group that looks connected despite its newness. What appeared from the outside to be instant chemistry was actually the product of months of deliberate planning and adaptability.
Raising the roof
As they move toward conference play, Las Positas enters the next phase of its season with a 13-1 record and a top 10 state ranking. Through the nonconference portion of the schedule, the Hawks have shown consistency across multiple settings. They have won games at home, on the road, and at neutral sites, including tournament play. Las Positas recorded several wins by wide margins while also winning close games, including a three-point victory at West Valley. Those results provided early opportunities to manage different game situations.
Conference play introduces new variables. Coast Conference opponents will face Las Positas with increased familiarity and preparation, and league play often repeats matchups. Five of the Hawks’ remaining games are against teams ranked in the state.
Areas of development remain. Three-point shooting efficiency has fluctuated, and offensive spacing will be tested as opponents adjust defense. Defensively, the Hawks will be evaluated against experienced guards and structured half-court offenses designed to limit opportunities.
Postseason qualification is determined by conference performance and regional placement. Las Positas has reached the state tournament in previous seasons, and the remaining schedule will shape seeding and postseason opportunities. The upcoming conference stretch will provide further clarity on how this group compares within the league and across the state.
***
TOP PHOTO: Sophomore wing Isaiah Minor glides in for a layup. He enters Coast Conference-North play averaging 9.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game off the bench for the Hawks. (Photo by Alan Lewis/ Special to The Express)
Annie Moore is the Sports Editor of The Express. Follow her on X @SanJosAnnie.
