HAWKS TAKE ON LAS POSITAS TODAY IN JOHN HOGUE MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT

UKIAH, Calif.- The Cosumnes River men's basketball team resumes play this afternoon, when they take on Las Positas in the opening round of the John Hogue Memorial Tournament at Mendocino College.  CRC returns to action following a disappointing showing at the San Jose City Tipoff Tournament during the season's opening weekend.

The Hawks enter the tournament with an 0-2 overall record following a pair of losses to perennial postseason contenders San Jose City and Foothill in San Jose City's tournament on opening weekend.  CRC performed well in both contests, holding opponents to sub-40% games offensively from the field.  However, the young team featuring 10 freshmen struggled from the line, and committed turnovers at an unusually high rate.  Cosumnes River will look to rebound from their disappointing opening weekend performance this afternoon when CRC takes on Las Positas.

Head Coach James Giacomazzi and his team return to action today against a Las Positas team taking a 1-2 record into tournament play today.  The Hawks of LPC are currently on a two-game skid following an 84-67 victory over Gavilan in the first round of their own tournament during the season's opening weekend.  Las Positas is led by freshman guard McKayle Harnell, who is currently averaging 20 points, two rebounds and two assists per contest.  Also sharing the offensive load is guard Cameron Moses, who's 11 points per contest is good for second on the team.  CRC last defeated Las Positas last season in the Chabot College Holiday Tournament.  They also defeated Las Positas in the 2010 Ed Boyle Classic Tournament championship game which was played at Mendocino College.

Cosumnes River is currently averaging 64 points poer game on 41% shooting from the field.  They're led by sophomores Mitchell Love and David Straughter.  Love is currently averaging 11 points per game in just under 25 minutes per contest, while Straughter is averaging a double-double following the team's opening weekend.  The sophomore forward is averaging a team-high 14 points and 10 rebounds per game.  Also contributing on the glass is freshman forward Daylon Potts.  Potts is currently averaging just under six points and 10 rebounds in 23 minutes per game.  CRC will once again lean heavily on a very deep, but young, rotation as the team currently has 10 players averaging double-digits in minutes.  

The Hawks are scheduled to tipoff against Las Positas this afternoon at 2 PM in the tournament's opening game.  The winner will advance to take on the winner of Lassen-Los Medanos tomorrow afternoon.  Also appearing in the tournament is Big 8 foe Modesto JC, as well as College of the Redwoods, Skyline, and host Mendocino College.  The John Hogue Memorial Tournament runs through Saturday.

JOHN HOGUE MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT BRACKET (PDF)