PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CRC CONNECTION (CAMILLE CAULK)
SACRAMENTO, Calif.- Cosumnes River men's basketball head coach James Giacomazzi has released the team's 2014-15 schedule.
The schedule includes five tournament appearances, one of which will be hosted at Cosumnes River College, in addition to 14 Big 8 Conference contests. The team's schedule also includes the Nor Cal Juco Jamboree in San Francisco, a two-day event where the Hawks will play four exhibition games as part of its preseason schedule in September. CRC plays 14 Big 8 contests, which will continue in the Tuesday-Friday format for the 2014-15 season. Cosumnes River will play each of the other seven conference teams twice, once at home, and once on the road.
This year, Big 8 play begins at home with a contest against rival Diablo Valley (Jan. 6), before the team takes on crosstown rivals American River and Sacramento City, in consecutive road games. CRC will return home the following Friday to take on the Sierra Wolverines (Jan. 16). The team will next play at home the following Friday, when they play host to the Pirates of Modesto JC. Cosumnes River begins the month of February at home with a pair of home games against American River (Feb. 3) and Sacramento City (Feb. 6). They'll then take on the Delta Mustangs (feb. 12) the next week, before closing out conference play against defending CCCAA State Champion Santa Rosa JC (Feb. 20) on "Sophomore Night." The Hawks were in a battle with the Bear Cubs for the Big 8 Conference championship until the final game of the regular season, finishing in second place.
CRC opens the regular season on the road at the San Jose City Tip-off Classic on Nov. 6. The tournament lasts through the weekend, and features a loaded field of teams, including host San Jose City, Foothill, Lassen, Merced JC, Merritt, Monterey Peninsula, and Riverside. The Hawks opened last season at the San Jose City Tip-off Classic, going 2-1 during the opening weekend, and taking the consolation championship.
The Hawks are then idle for a couple weeks before heading to Ukiah for the Ed Boyle Classic Tournament, hosted by Mendocino College (Nov. 20-22). CRC returns to the Ed Boyle Classic following a one-year hiatus due to a scheduling conflict. The team took the 2010-11 tournament championship with a victory over Las Positas College. Cosumnes River opens the month of December when they host the 36th Annual James Clark Classic at Cosumnes River College (Dec. 4-6). Coach Giacomazzi and his team won the 35th James Clark Classic championship with a victory over Final Four participant Chabot College of Hayward. Chabot headlines a loaded field returning to the tournament.
The month of December continues when the Hawks travel to Modesto for the 76th MJC Tournament, hosted at Modesto Junior College (Dec. 16-20). The 16-team tournament is the longest running CCCAA basketball tournament in Northern California, and once again, features an elite field of teams from Northern and Southern California. CRC took 5th place in last season's tournament, with a victory over Cuesta. Cosumnes River returns at the end of the month to the Chabot Tournament, beginning Dec. 28, to close out the pre conference portion of their regular season schedule.
Cosumnes River returns to the hardwood for the first time this season when they kick off the "Non-Traditional Season" this month with four exhibition games at the Nor Cal Juco Jamboree at CCSF (Sept. 27-28).