Ekam Sandhu came to Las Positas last season as an undersized guard walking into a building full of program history.
After playing high school basketball at Castro Valley High School, Sandhu decided to redshirt his first year and develop under head coach James Giacomazzi and his staff.
Fast-forward from his experience last season, Sandhu is coming off the bench as one of the team’s most valuable hustle players.
His impact can’t be measured by a box score. His character is the core of this season’s success. He represents the team’s identity: grit and hustle.
On Wednesday Feb. 11, three games removed from their blowout loss to rival the City College of San Francisco Rams, the Hawks beat the Skyline Trojans 97-58. Sandhu’s performance off the bench did not go unnoticed.
“He’s one of our crew guys, for sure,” Giacomazzi said. “He’s a dog.”
The Hawks have set the tone this season, their only losses coming from San Jose and conference rival San Francisco. They have received contributions across the roster, including former redshirt Sandhu. The Hawks aim to carry that into their regular-season finale against the Rams. Their performance against Skyline demonstrated their ability to adjust while maintaining their style of play.
“You go through contact, and you go through that physicality,” Giacomazzi said. “I think we gotta get a little more physical in our drives.”
The Trojans hit 12 threes, shooting nearly 50% on Jan. 16, when Las Positas and Skyline met for the first time this year. For Giacomazzi and the Hawks, the priority heading into this matchup was to make sure that wouldn’t happen again.
“There’s always a game plan,” Giacomazzi said. “We definitely didn’t want a repeat of that.”
The Hawks commanded a lead throughout the game. They had prepared and adjusted since the previous matchup.
This time around, they allowed four fewer three-point shots. Closeouts were tighter, defensive rotations were quicker, and the Hawks emphasized forcing drives inside. There was a three-game stretch in January, in which teams shot over 40% against the Hawks — a rate that could be costly in the postseason.
The Hawks adjusted defensively, and opposing three-point percentages declined. They played tight defense, fitting into passing lanes and forcing turnovers. That style of play is consistent with Giacomazzi’s approach, evident in the Hawks’ use of a full-court press from the opening tip.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Hawks hit a season-high 11 threes, including three consecutive shots from sophomore guard Khristian Holmes.
Sandhu, who was watching from the sidelines 11 months ago, has contributed to the Hawks’ postseason push. Sandhu went from an undersized guard adjusting to college basketball to becoming a key contributor to the Hawks’ success.
“That’s him, he’s Mr. Solid, Mr. Energizer guy,” Giacomazzi said. “He kind of changed the game.”
Sandhu doesn’t always play the most minutes or score the most points off the bench, but when he checks in, he energizes the team. Sandhu’s season high was 11 points against Lassen on Nov. 15, but scoring is not the primary focus of his game. Sandhu is fourth on the team in steals, trailing three starters despite playing fewer minutes.
“Anyone on this team can get a bucket,” Sandhu said. “But when it comes to defense, that’s energy and effort.”
Each Hawk had their hands on the ball, disrupting any flow Skyline could muster. With time winding down, freshman Cole Loud picked a Skyline guard at half court, took three steps, and slammed the ball home.
The Hawks have players who rank highly in the state in defensive categories. Sophomore Richard Banks leads the state in steals with 89. Kodey Weary ranks 10th in rebounding and eighth in blocks. Australian newcomer Ted Bigg-Wither is second in the state in blocks, trailing Kenyon DeMuynck, San Francisco’s leading scorer.
Las Positas ranks sixth in points per game while ranking 85th in made three-pointers per game. A contributing factor to the Hawks’ lower three-point totals is that point guard and leading scorer Jaden Woodard primarily attacks the paint, rather than shooting from beyond the arc. Woodard did attempt to make a three-point shot 30 seconds into the game, but did not attempt another one thereafter. He did, however, draw contact, going 3-5 from the line.
“I don’t shy away from contact,” Woodard said. “I’m confident when I go up that I’m either getting fouled or I’m making the layup.”
Woodard’s ability to drive downhill presents challenges for opposing defenses, according to Giacomazzi: “When he sees a little bit of daylight, he’s so strong with his downhill drive. He’s just hard to stay in front of.”
The Hawks have three remaining matchups before the regular season concludes. Games against Ohlone, San Mateo, which has the state’s seventh-ranked defense in points per game allowed, and San Francisco.
The Hawks aim to continue their perimeter shooting and maintain their style of play as they prepare for their upcoming matchup at San Francisco. That game carries playoff implications.
After a 39-point win, the Hawks remain focused on their next opponent.
“We just really got to be really locked in going into next week,” Woodard said. “So we can take care of business.”
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TOP PHOTO: Freshman guard Ekam Sandhu goes in for a left-handed layup. Everything went right for the Hawks against visiting Skyline, allowing every player to get time on the court. (Photo Ian Kapsalis/The Express)
Annie Moore is the Sports Editor of The Express. Follow her on X @SanJosAnnie.
