Cosumnes River College men’s basketball coach James Giacomazzi announced the program’s 2013-14 schedule today.
The schedule includes five tournaments, including the annual James Clark Classic hosted at Cosumnes River College, before conference play begins in January. CRC will play 14 Big 8 Conference games this season.
Cosumnes River returns only three players and a redshirt from last year’s squad, one that remained in the postseason race until the final game of the season. Among those returners are last season’s starting backcourt in sophomores Rodney Cook and Brenden Glapion. Cook, who led the Hawks last season from the point guard position, averaged nine points and five assists per game over his freshman campaign. Glapion, a redshirt sophomore who earned the starting shooting guard spot over the second half of the season, returns as one of the Hawks better perimeter defenders. Sophomore forward Jaycob Velasco also returns to lead the Hawks frontcourt, averaging 13 points and seven rebounds during a standout freshman campaign for the Hawks.
This year’s schedule includes tournament appearances at San Jose City, Modesto, Lassen and Chabot Colleges. The Hawks open the year on Thursday, November 9, at the San Jose City College Classic. Cosumnes River makes their home debut later that month, as they play host to the James Clark Classic at Clark Court, on Thursday, November 24. Returning to the Clark Classic is Chabot College of Hayward, Columbia College of Sonora, Feather River College of Quincy, Merced Junior College, Napa Valley College, as well as Porterville College. The College of Alameda makes its return to the Clark Classic, and is the lone new team to the tournament this season.
The Hawks continue their non-conference schedule in December, appearing in three tournaments over a span of four weeks. The Hawks return to the 16-team Modesto Junior College Invitational Tournament, taking place from December 3-7 at Modesto JC. Cosumnes River makes their debut appearance at the Lassen Tournament at Lassen College in Susanville, which runs from December 13-15. CRC concludes their non-conference schedule the final weekend of 2013, as they return to Hayward for the Chabot College Holiday Classic Tournament, taking place from December 28-30.
CRC opens Big 8 play on January 7 at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill. The Hawks then open a two-game homestand against crosstown rivals American River College (Jan. 10) and Sacramento City College (Jan. 14). Tip-off for both games will be 5:30. The team’s final home game will be played February 18 against Modesto Junior College. That game will begin at 7:30.
The CCCAA Regional Playoffs will begin with first-round matchups on Wednesday, February 26 at designated home sites. Second-round matchups will be played either Friday, February 28, or Saturday, March 1. Third and fourth round matchups will take place on March 5 and 8 respectively, followed by the State Championships on Saturday, March 15, and Sunday, March 16. The State Championships, which were hosted the past two seasons at Cosumnes River College return to Southern California, as Cerritos College will play host this season.
Tickets are available at the door for each event. Admission is always free for CRC faculty, staff, and students with valid identification.