COLUSA, CA (MPG) – For the first time in more than a decade, the Colusa girls’ basketball team finished as the champions at its own Jim Ernst Classic, after defeating Willows, Fortuna, and Sutter on consecutive days last week.
It was a dominant performance from the RedHawks, who never trailed in the tournament, using their outside shooting to open up the inside, then in turn playing good defense on the other end of the court.
Having finished second to Pierce for the past two years, Colusa had some additional motivation to win, which centered around gaining information about the birth of their coach Manuel Cano’s child, who was born during the tournament.
Cano, in his second season at the helm of the varsity squad, told his players he would only give them the details about the new baby if they won, and in response the team did just that, finishing off Sutter 43-33 last Saturday afternoon.
To learn that Cano and his wife had a son, the RedHawks played a stifling first half of defense holding the Huskies to just 10 points, then withstood a frantic rally in the final quarter to secure the victory.
Tournament Most Valuable Player, Danica Chavez, pumped in a team-high 15 points in thecontest, including four free throws down the stretch to ice the game.
Aliah Ramirez chipped in with eight points, while McKenna Azbil had a big put-back bucket in the final minute and was tough on the boards throughout.
Prior to the win in the championship game, Colusa blew past Willows 49-23 on Nov. 30, and then downed Fortuna 47-34 the following evening.
In the opener against the Honkers, Chavez dropped 19 points, Ramirez pulled down 12 rebounds to go along with six points, with Azbill and Addison Lay both ending the night with six points and seven boards.
Chavez also had the hot hand against Fortuna, finishing with a game-high 20 points including four from long distance.
Bella Badaluco and Alena Sanchez tossed in six points apiece in the victory.
Joining Chavez only the All-Tournament team was Azbill and Lay.
Also participating in the Ernst Classic was defending champion Pierce, who is adjusting to life without All-Section standout Jocelyn Medina, who graduated last spring.
New head coach Michael Barber’s team lost its first two games to Sutter 39-52 and Dixon 28-53, respectively, but finished the tournament with a 31-21 win over Willows.
Although no statistics from the games were available, Magali Jauregui was the Bears’ representative on the All- Tournament team.
This week Colusa (2-1) hosted Las Plumas on Tuesday before traveling to play in the Woodland Christian Tournament, which starts on Dec. 7.
Meanwhile, Pierce (1-2) hosted Wheatland on Monday in its only scheduled game this week.