The Hawks proved they’re capable of pulling off upsets. Even on the road.
They went into San Francisco and knocked off the No. 1 team in California. The loss to Las Positas back on Jan. 10 is still the Rams’ only loss this season. The Hawks went into Modesto on March 8 and punched their ticket into the 3C2A Men’s Basketball State Championships by handling the host Pirates.
Each time, the Hawks did it by suffocating their opponent. Powered by a half of aggressive defense in each upset, they held both well below their average to just 69 points.
Now, Las Positas heads on the road to Mt. San Antonio College. Once again underdogs as the No. 3 seed from the North. It’s going to take multiple upsets to reach the state final. The first mountainous challenge for the Hawks: the Citrus College Owls.
The Owls are the No. 2-ranked team from the South region. They also boast the state’s highest-scoring offense.
The Hawks made it this far with an experienced starting five, a reliable bench and a belief they could compete with anybody. Against the Owls, it will take everything they have.
This is only the program’s second trip to state. They’ve never had a win in the Elite Eight. One win puts Las Positas in the semifinals, likely for a rubber match against San Francisco. Most importantly, one win etches these Hawks as the most successful team in school history.
“If it’s good enough, it’s going to be good enough, if it’s not, it’s not,” head coach James Giacomazzi said. “But we’re never going to look back and say we could have done more. We’re leaving everything on the floor.”
The Owls might have the most dynamic offense the Hawks have faced.
Their 102.5 points per game are powered by sophomore guard Tyler Isaak, a 6-foot-4 guard Bay Area product from San Ramon Valley High School who averages 18.5 points on 56.8 percent shooting coming into the tournament. Next to him is 6-foot-3 freshman guard K.J. Perry, who averages 17.2 points on 48.8 percent shooting.
Isaak leads one of the state’s best three-point shooting teams. Citrus ranks sixth in the state in three-point percentage (36.8) and eighth in threes made (286). Isaak is one of six Owls to make at least 30 threes this season and one of five to shoot at least 40 percent from deep. Sophomore guard Blake Ballard shoots a higher percentage (42.9) than Isaak, who leads Citrus with 48 made threes.
But the Hawks’ defensive strength is on the perimeter. Their roster is filled with lengthy guards, led by freshman Richard Banks. Alongside him are Jorren Edmonds, Sterling McClanahan, and the Mobley twins — Elijah and Elliot. When their on-ball pressure is effective, they chase shooters off the line and towards the basket, funneling them to 6-foot-7 big man Mecca Okereke.
All season, the Hawks anchored their identity on their aggressive defensive approach. The 69.6 points per game they allowed this season ranks No. 22 in the state.
However, the Hawks have seen some slippage on that end of the court. They’ve allowed 70 or more points in six of their last eight games. They continue to force turnovers at a high level — their 14.4 steals per game is best in the state. Their pressure on the ball well out onto the perimeter leaves them scrambling if a ball-handler gets past the first line of defense. They give up open shots when they have to rotate.
Can the Hawks put together another one of their stellar, gritty defensive performances against an elite offense?
If not, they’ll have to find a way to match Citrus offensively.
The Hawks are currently tied for the sixth-best offense in the state with 86.3 points per game. Much of their attack comes from their turnovers. They rely on fastbreak opportunities, thriving in high-tempo matchups.
It may well come down to who protects the ball best — Citrus ranks second in steals per game with 12.3. Their defense is sub-par, the explosive offense making up for the fact they give up 82.1 points a game.
When the Hawks are in the halfcourt, sophomore guards Elijah Mobley and Jorren Edmonds hold the keys to the offense.
“Those guys are really good players, period,” Giacomazzi said after their second-round win over Columbia. “But they’re also good in isolation… Elijah in space is a nightmare, and then Jorren is just really under control. And you know, I think he’s the best mid-range player in California.”
Mobley leads the team in points with 19.3 and does most of his damage off the dribble. He’s a relentless penetrator who puts pressure on the defense by attacking mismatches and drawing fouls. Edmonds, the only Hawk on the roster during the 2022 state tournament appearance, serves as the point guard and lives in the midrange. He averaged 12 points while shooting 50.3% from the field, 52.0% from three and 80% from the free-throw line. His calm demeanor, along with a deadly jumper, made him a safe option in the clutch this season.
Perhaps the biggest key, the difference between a potent Hawks offense and an impotent one, is Sterling McClanahan. He’s the best 3-point shooter and can get hot. He finished second on the Hawks in scoring (15.1 points per game) and made a team-high 58 three-pointers to date.
Freshman Coby Christensen has served as a recent spark plug, making seven of his last 16 attempts from deep. Outside of him and McClanhan, the Hawks pose little threat from deep. Las Positas ranked No. 69 in the state with 167 made 3-pointers. In three of their four losses this season, the Hawks managed six threes — two in each game.
Adding to the degree of difficulty for the Hawks’ offense: Citrus has a stout perimeter defense. Teams shoot 28.4 percent on 3-pointers against the Owls — fourth-lowest in the state.
Even if it turns off the three-point faucet for the Hawks, Citrus still has some vulnerabilities. The Owls allow 82.1 points per game, which ranks 84th in California.
Their up-tempo style creates more possessions. And a team that shoots lots of three-pointers creates long-rebound opportunities that opponents can seize and take off in transition. Owls’ opponents have taken 1,988 shots this season — 326 more than Hawks’ defense has allowed. As much as Citrus excels at guarding the three-point line, its interior defense leaves much to be desired. The Owls allow 51.5% from inside the arc.
If the Las Positas can’t score, that will really put pressure on its defense. The Hawks’ best bet then would be to handily win the turnover battle and attack Citrus in the paint.
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TOP PHOTO: The defense of Elliot Mobley (No. 3) — here blocking De Anza’s Theo McDowell on Feb. 19, 2025 in Cupertino, Calif. — will be vital if the Hawks are to beat Citrus. (Photo by Jakob Arnarsson/ The Express)
Jakob Arnarsson is the Managing Editor and Sports Editor of The Express. Follow him on X, formally Twitter, @JakobA2004
