Ted Bigg-Wither couldn’t believe it when he heard the whistle. He knew he was in trouble, along with his Hawks.
“Oh my god,” was all he could muster.
With five minutes left in Saturday’s home playoff game, the Hawks’ starting center fouled out. Bigg-Wither had been the backbone in Las Positas’ match against Sierra College. The reason they were still in it. He finished with 14 points.
When the No. 7-seeded Hawks needed a spark, they fed him the ball in the post and watched him go to work. Without him, the Hawks lost their size. They lost their only consistent scorer.
ALL-FRESHMAN big man Ted Bigg-Wither (No. 25) led the Hawks with 13 points in the first half — fighting in the paint — fully extended, Bigg-Wither shows off his 6’10” wingspan. Bigg-Wither finishes his Freshman campaign with 300 total points, an avg. of 10.7 ppg — 9.5 rebounds per game and 75 blocks. (Photo by Ian Kapsalis/The Express)
While walking towards the bench, Bigg-Wither still couldn’t believe it. He glanced back towards the basket, hoping by some miracle the refs would change their mind. That he could still make an impact in the game.
That miracle didn’t come. Succumbing to his frustrations, he tucked his head into his shirt while taking his place on the bench.
That’s what did it. Without Bigg-Wither’s impact, the season was lost.
Sierra outlasted the Hawks 76-70 in the second round of the 3C2A NorCal Regionals, ending the Hawks’ season. It was a close game throughout, but Las Positas couldn’t stick the landing. Sophomore Kodey Weary and freshman Bigg-Wither were dominant inside until Bigg-Wither fouled out.
“I did some stupid fouls,” Bigg-Wither said, “but that was definitely a winnable game, and we just didn’t put it together.”
This was the last run for a sophomore core that had fought until the end the past two seasons, last year being an Elite Eight run. They entered the postseason ranked fifth in the State. Woodard and Weary had paced their offensive success the whole year. But with the lights at their brightest, they couldn’t score enough to match the craftiness of Sierra.
Bigg-Wither was the lone freshman starter. When he fouled out, and the lead slipped away, it wasn’t about development or what comes next. It was the close of a group that expected more than a second-round exit.
“We wanted to get back to the Elite Eight and have that experience again,” Giacomazzi said. “I’m bummed they won’t get that opportunity again this season.”
The Hawks started fast. In the first five minutes, Richard Banks was able to contain Sierra’s leading point scorer, sophomore Garret Dutro. Las Positas was looking strong inside-and-out, with Weary and Bigg-Wither shutting down the inside.
But the momentum shifted, and Dutro started to dominate, alongside their third leading scorer, freshman Jayce Underwood. The two were responsible for 21 of the 29 points scored in the first half.
“Richard gave all that he had,” Head Coach James Giacomazzi said. “His defensive assignment was a huge challenge, and he had to run the offense on the other end as well.”
RICHARD BANKS did it all in his final game at Las Positas. He scored, as on the scoop layup on the left, and was a blur in transition for the Hawks. He also drew the toughest defensive match — Sierra College’s Garret Dutro. But a layup he missed late to put the Hawks ahead inside a final minute sealed his team’s fate in a 76-70 loss to Sierra on Feb. 28 in Livermore, Calif. (Photo by Ian Kapsalis/The Express)
The remainder of the first half started to tire out the Hawks. It was a physical game, totaling 19 fouls by halftime. They looked out of breath and were outrun by a team with similar sizing and pace.
In the second half, Dutro came back with even stronger energy. He was able to put up 15 points himself, all while constantly making his physicality felt on defense, holding the Hawks to a high physical bar.
Dutro showed the same production he’s been producing all season long, averaging 21.7 points per game, 122 assists and an 88.1% free-throw rate, while also contributing 8.2 rebounds, 48 steals and 34 blocks — showcasing his scoring, playmaking and defensive impact.
Meanwhile, the Hawks’ leading point scorer and sophomore Woodard played timidly. And after Bigg-Withers’ benching in the final minutes, Banks was left to operate a team without their usual strength and size.
Bigg-Wither was everywhere until he was nowhere at all. He was responsible for 14 points against Sierra, diverting shots, erasing Sierra drives and running the floor like the paint belonged to him.
Without him, the rim opened up. The rhythm shifted. Sierra took control, outscoring the Hawks 12-6 in the last five minutes.
“Losing Ted was huge,” said Giacomazzi. “He’ll be one of the most highly touted prospects in the State next year.
But Bigg-Wither takes it as a moment to grow and learn from the small things that could cost a playoff game.
“You just can’t have lapses. You compound mistakes,” said Bigg-Wither. In a six-point playoff game, the margin was that thin.
When Bigg-Wither was forced to check out, Bank’s attempted to keep the Hawks steady. He kept organizing, kept talking, kept attacking even as the end neared.
“I go into every game expecting to win,” Banks said. That didn’t waver. The leadership qualities he’s grown throughout the season didn’t allow him to let his Hawks let up.
“No matter how many points you’re down, you can always come back,” he said. “Because the game’s not over.”
The partnership between the two sophomores carried Las Positas through stretches where structure mattered more than flash. In the end, they were still the ones trying to steady it. Banks commanded the floor while Woodard tried to execute, combined having 18 points, something that kept the game close.
Las Positas had one of its best runs this season. One they hoped could manufacture a repeat appearance in the Elite Eight. Instead, they are left with disappointment.
“I mean, I feel like we could have went farther, for sure,” Banks said. “It just didn’t go our way this game… we tried our best to do everything we can. We just came up short.”
But from a coaching perspective, Giacomazzi still wants his team to grow from moments like this, even if the season is over.
“I didn’t learn anything new last night,” said Giacomazzi. “We knew what was coming. What I hope the guys learned is that one possession can be the difference from advancing in the tournament or going home.”
The season is gone. What they built — the games they won, the points they scored — none of it matters in the box score anymore. For this group, the lights go out on a powerful run, and the court goes quiet. All that is left are memories of what they could do — and what they almost did.
“All I ever ask of the kids is to give it all they got,” said Giacomazzi. “and have no regrets about effort and I think they’ve accomplished that.”
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TOP PHOTO: All-Freshman Team Selection and All-Conference Honorable Mention, Ted Bigg-Wither (No. 25) played all out in his first playoff appearance. Fouling out of the game with 5:23 left on the clock — Bigg-Wither still finished second in scoring with 15 points. (Photo by Ian Kapsalis/The Express)
Annie Moore is the Sports Editor of The Express. Follow her on X @SanJosAnnie.
