MORGAN HILL, CA (MPG) – After an easy win 56-30 win over No. 11 seeded Fortune Early College of Sacramento in the first round of the Northern Regional Division V State Basketball Playoffs on Feb. 27, No. 6 Colusa saw its season come to an end two days later in a 65-69 road loss to No. 3 Oakwood.
At home against FECHS, a school of just 195 students, the RedHawks held the Panthers to just seven points and 22 percent shooting from the floor to take a commanding 32-7 lead at intermission.
And while Colusa cooled off from its torrid 69 percent shooting percentage in the first half, the relentless pressure it applied was just too much for the visiting Panthers, who were making their inaugural appearance in the state tournament.
Landon Humphrey tossed in a game-high 23 points, while Isaiah Travis finished with an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double in addition to making five blocks.
In Morgan Hill, the RedHawks jumped out to a 19-11 first quarter lead, but were outscored 24-12 in the ensuing period and despite a ferocious second half effort were unable to fully recover.
Humphrey, in his final game for Colusa, poured in 24 points while fellow seniors Luke Kalfsbeek and Travis finished with 14 and 10 points respectively.
Kalfsbeek and Travis led the effort on the boards collecting nine apiece.
After the disappointing loss, Coach Brian Davis reflected on the experience saying, “This was definitely a game we could have won. We were just a bounce or two away from moving on to the semifinals. It was a fun game to be a part of though, as the whole squad played a role in giving us a chance to win. Our seniors carried the load and pushed to the final buzzer. I’d also like to acknowledge our fans who made the three-hour drive and provided support that rocked the stands like it was a home game.”
In addition to Humphrey, Travis and Kalfsbeek, it was also the final contest for the team’s five other seniors including Peyton Humphrey, Seth Kalisuch, Nicko Mata, Aiden Selover and Jake Sutton.
Reflecting on this group of players and the season, Davis not only expressed pride in the accomplishments, but also to what the future holds for the graduating seniors.
“This was a special season with special student athletes,” said the coach who just completed his 11th season at the helm. “To keep this train rolling we had to make adjustments from baseball guys filling in for the football guys who were playing in the state championship to others who were learning new positions on the fly.
In all, this was a great season. I will miss our seniors tremendously and be right there to support them at the next level, whether it’s the military, trade school or college. I am such a proud coach today.”
Colusa, the Sacramento Valley League co-champions, finished the year with an overall record of 23-8.