by Matt Schwab

Last year, Las Positas opened the season with 20 consecutive wins and advanced to the State Championship quarterfinals.

This season has been more of the same — the Hawks have 22 wins out 24 games with a new starting cast under head coach James Giacomazzi. But there's plenty of work to do.

In action last week, Giacomazzi's team, ranked 7th in the latest California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches Association poll, overcame some injuries to stave off upset-minded De Anza 83-78 on Wednesday. 

The close win served as an appetizer for the main course on Friday night in Hayward. Las Positas turned a nine-point halftime lead against host Chabot into an 86-60 blowout. Las Positas swept the season series against the Gladiators.

The Hawks (22-2, 9-1) are in sole possession of second place by three games over Chabot with four conference games remaining. They trail only reigning state champ CCSF (23-1, 10-0), the lone team to beat them in conference play.

"We learned a lot from City, and we have to play more controlled and play together more if we want to beat a team as good as City," sophomore captain Jaden Woodard said recently.

Las Positas will have a chance to avenge the loss when they travel to CCSF on Feb. 20 to complete conference play.  The teams split games last season, each winning on the road.

Kodey Weary and Ted Bigg-Wither commanded the paint against Chabot, helping the Hawks shoot 56 percent from the field and smash 14 blocks. Weary had a double-double with team highs of 23 points and 17 rebounds, along with four blocks, shooting 9 for 16 from the field and 5 for 6 on free throws. 

After sitting out the De Anza game, Bigg-Wither returned with a vengeance against Chabot. He had a double-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds along with seven blocks. He was 7 of 7 from the floor. He leads the conference in shooting percentage at 69.1 per game and is No. 2 in blocks with 66.

Woodard had his usual array of production with 21 points, four assists, three rebounds and a steal.

Woodard is No. 3 in conference scoring at 18 points a game, and Weary is No. 3 in rebounds at 10 per game. The Hawks' Richard Banks leads the conference in steals by a wide margin with 89, and tops the Coast-North in assists with 123.