SACRAMENTO, Calif.- Head coach James Giacomazzi and his Cosumnes River men's basketball team capped another successful season, as the Hawks season concluded in the Northern California regional semifinals last week. The Hawks finish the regular season with a mark of 23-8, an appearance in the CCCAA Sweet 16, and a Big 8 conference championship.
This season marks the second consecutive season the Hawks have finished with 23 wins, as well as the team's second straight appearance in the Sweet 16. It also marks the 4th straight season a Hawk has garnered first team All-State honors, as Mitchell Love was named to the All-State team following an MVP season in the Big 8 conference. Love joins AJ Bridges, Charles Standifer and Tony Gill as Hawks to receive the honor in recent years.
The Big 8 championship is Coach Giacomazzi's second during his tenure as head coach of the Cosumnes River men's basketball program. CRC ran away with the conference, winning their final 12 games of conference play after dropping their first two. The Hawks won the conference by three games, propelling the team to the 5th seed in the Nor Cal regional playoffs.
The 2014-15 season got off to a rough start for the Hawks, as the young team dropped their first three games of the season. The team responded by winning their next eight however, earning a trip to the Modesto JC tournament championship game for the first time in team history. The Hawks concluded pre conference play by taking 3rd in the Chabot tournament, and headed into Big 8 play with a 10-5 record.
CRC struggled out of the gates in Big 8 play, dropping their first two games, and putting themselves into a two-game hole. The Hawks, just as they had done previously in the season rebounded in a big way, winning their next 12 games and running away with the Big 8 conference title. Cosumnes River entered postseason play with a record of 22-7, good for the 5th seed in the playoffs.
The Hawks opened the postseason with a home game against Golden Valley conference champion Butte. CRC punched their second consecutive ticket to the Northern California regional semifinals, and their fourth in six seasons, with an impressive 69-60 victory over the Roadrunners.
Cosumnes River's season concluded last Wednesday following the team's 79-72 defeat at the hands of Bay Valley conference champion, and 3rd seed, Marin. The Hawks led with nine minutes to play in the second half, but couldn't get stops down the stretch when they needed them. CRC concluded the season with a 23-8 mark, one of the best records in school history.
CRC finishes the year with the top-ranked defense in Northern California, and the third-best in the state. Anchoring the defense was freshman Donald Mims, the state's leading shot blocker with over four per contest. Leading the team in scoring was Big 8 MVP Love, at 13.4 points per contest. David Straughter finished second on the team with 13 points per game. Love led the team in assists, while Straughter was also the team's leading rebounder at eight per game. Daylon Potts finished second with 7.4 rebounds per contest in only 19 minutes of action. Sharpshooter Phil Randles led all CRC players with 48 three-pointers on the year, shooting over 40% from deep on the season.
SEASON HONORS
MITCHELL LOVE- 1st Team All-State; Big 8 Conference Most Valuable Player; Clark Classic All-Tournament Selection; CRC Student-Athlete of the Week
DONALD MIMS- 1st Team All-Big 8 Conference; Chabot All-Tournament Selection
DAVID STRAUGHTER- 1st Team All-Big 8 Conference; Clark Classic All-Tournament Selection; Mendocino All-Tournament Selection; MJC All-Tournament Selection
TRENTON ANTHONY- Clark Classic Most Valuable Player; MJC All-Tournament Selection
JOSH DELA CRUZ- All-Big 8 Conference Honorable Mention; CRC Student-Athlete of the Week
PHIL RANDLES- All-Big 8 Conference Honorable Mention