Sophomore guard Jaden Woodard was smiling at the free-throw line. His spin move frustrated Chabot’s defender, sophomore center Christian Wilson. The Gladiators’ sophomore jokingly commented to Woodard about his reliance on the spin move, using it over and over again.
Woodard laughed while looking at his feet. He looked up to say, “It worked, though.”
They could agree on that. It worked. In a game carrying the weight of a rivalry and the pressure of a recent loss, Woodard looked comfortable. Loose.
The moment passed quickly, but it captured the role he has grown into for Las Positas: A player who sets the tone not just by scoring, but by how he carries himself when the moment asks for control.
The Hawks bested sister school Chabot College 83-68 on Jan. 14. The Gladiators were LPC’s third victim on their current four-game win streak after suffering their first loss of the season to visiting San Jose on Jan. 3. The Hawks are now 4-0 in Coast Conference-North action. The loss triggered a new level of physicality. They took control of the pace. Led by Woodard’s smart play and a defensive focus, Las Positas reestablished its identity. In doing so, they turned a rivalry game against Chabot into an early statement as conference play unfolds.
“When you’re known to be one of the better players in the state of California,” head coach James Giacomazzi said of Woodard, “you just gotta be inserting your dominance from start to finish on both sides of the floor.”
Chabot presented a test of focus for LPC. The Hawks needed to show that their early undefeated streak was built on more than a weak non-conference schedule. By leaning on Woodard’s leadership and responding with defensive discipline and urgency, Las Positas offered an early indication of how this group handles pressure.
From the opening minutes, the Hawks set the tone through physicality and strong defense — but they weren’t prepared for Chabot’s offensive pace. Chabot dictated the pace of the game, maintaining longer offensive possessions.
Rather than testing their luck or pressing, Las Positas trusted rotations. This kind of call is what Giacomazzi enforced. It’s necessary against opponents who can shoot and play physical down the road.
“You can’t just run around and trap and be crazy,” Giacomazzi said. He emphasized a focus on staying in front of the ball and a solid defensive. This approach prevented Chabot from finding a steady rhythm and helped the Hawks rebuild control.
Offensively, the Hawks weren’t leaning on precision. The pressure is what drove them. Woodard was consistent on attacking downhill, setting the tone while collapsing the Chabot defense.
He finished with a team-high of 22 points. His approach reflected what teammates described as his strength — getting to the rim and letting everything else follow.
“That’s his big thing,” said sophomore guard Richard Banks. “We try to run offense for him to just go score, basically.”
Sophomore forward Kodey Weary’s physicality showed up in second-chance opportunities and interior finishes. With his strengths, Las Positas won the margins and carried an advantage into halftime. He finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Las Positas came on strong from the start with early possessions. The visitors managed to shave down the deficit at times, but the Hawks bounced back each time. Each small push was met with a response, and Las Positas maintained control through defensive stops and steady offense. The Hawks refused to let the game slip from their fingers.
Woodard had an impact beyond scoring. His aggression created possessions and dictated how Las Positas played on both ends of the court. Giacomazzi pointed to Woodard’s focus and energy as drivers of that. He noted moments in which Woodard “kind of willed us to some possessions,” including an offensive rebound that shifted the momentum. He grabbed nine total boards in the game.
Woodard’s willingness to initiate contact and stay assertive made him, as Giacomazzi put it, “a load to stay in front of.”
That determination, that physicality, is what created space for Weary to grow into the game. Though production progressively built as the night went on, his influence was felt through mismatches, rebounding and physical finishes.
Giacomazzi said that Weary is most effective when he is engaged early, as he presents a difficult matchup to guard when asserted. Woodard drew the attention downhill, and Weary benefited from it as it shifted the defense. He could capitalize on opportunities and wear Chabot down over time.
Their connection operates as a response. Woodard pushes the pace and collapses the defense. Weary follows with his presence and physicality. This pair demonstrated a balanced team built on awareness, not hierarchy. When one asserts himself, the other responds, and the Hawks are steadier for it.
Giacomazzi noted that Woodard’s resolve empowered him to dominate from start to finish. That assertiveness tilted the game. Defensively, the Hawks remained composed — limiting Chabot’s counters and preventing sustained runs.
Las Positas closed the game with the same intent it opened with, responding to pressure with poise rather than urgency. That physicality, that ability to wear down their opposition, wilted Chabot until they couldn’t fight any longer.
“This wasn’t about coaching or Xs and Os,” Giacomazzi said. “This is about will and want and desire.”
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TOP PHOTO: Jaden Woodard’s leadership helped the Hawks get back on track after their first loss of the season. (Photo by Alan Lewis/ Special to The Express)
Annie Moore is the Sports Editor of The Express. Follow her on X @SanJosAnnie.
