The Hawks’ three leading scorers — sophomore guards Elijah Mobley, Sterling McClanahan and Jorren Edmonds — were all named to the First Team All-Coast Conference.
The first team honors are a product of the Hawks’ regular season success, which earned multiple conference awards. Perhaps most important, it earned Las Positas men’s basketball a No. 5 seed and a first-round in the 3C2A NorCal Regionals.
They will host the winner of No.12 Columbia vs. No. 21 Siskiyous on March 1. Las Positas beat Siskiyous by 20 points back in November.
After finishing 24-4, the Hawks tied for their second-highest seeding under head coach James Giacomazzi. The Hawks will not have to get through San Francisco, the No. 1 team in the bracket, in order to make state. Nor will the Hawks have to face any of the teams that beat them as Skyline is on the opposite side of the bracket (with No. 2 West Valley) and Chabot was ineligible for this postseason. The highest seed Las Positas would face on the road to state is No. 4 Modesto (25-3), this year’s Big 8 Conference champs.
If the Hawks win and either No. 13 Contra Costa or No. 20 Ohlone upset Modesto, Las Positas would host a second playoff game for a right to play in the state tournament — which begins March 13 at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif.
The Hawks are seeking their second-ever state tournament birth, the first coming 2021-22 season. They lost in the first game, a 77-64 loss to West L.A.
Las Positas will need big games from Elijah Mobley, who earned first-team honors for the second-consecutive season. His 18.7 points per game led the Hawks while finishing second in the conference. He shot 52.1% from the field while adding 4 rebounds and 3.1 assists a game.
McClanahan did his damage from three-point range, leading the team with 58 makes from deep. His 38.7% was fifth best in the conference. He averaged 15.3 points per game with 3.9 rebounds.
Edmonds saw his name on the 1st Team All-Coast Conference and the Defensive All-Conference Team. He averaged 11.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists. He led the conference in steals with three a game while adding 0.9 blocks.
Elliot Mobley, another sophomore guard, was named an Honorable Mention. He was second only to Edmonds on the Hawks in assists, averaging 3.5 while adding 7.2 points and 2.5 rebounds. His 52.6 field goal percentage was also second on the team.
The coaches of the Coast Conference North Division voted on the honors.
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TOP PHOTO: The Hawks huddling-up during their season finale against Skyline on Feb. 21. Their 24-4 season record earns them the No. 5 seed for the NorCal playoff bracket. (Photo by Angelina An/ The Express)
Jakob Arnarsson is the Managing Editor and Sports Editor of The Express. Follow him on X, formally Twitter, @JakobA2004
