COLUSA, CA (MPG) – Colusa’s annual Georgia Raczniak Tournament concluded on Dec. 21, with Pierce topping the host RedHawks 67-52 in the consolation game.
Things looked promising for Colusa at the outset of the contest as Pierce struggled to get the ball to drop and as a result, the RedHawks found themselves up 25-21 at intermission.
However, the Bears turned the tables in the third period as they outscored Colusa 27-13 to take a 48-38 lead into the final quarter, where they remained in control and were able to increase their advantage.
JR Figueroa played a big role in the win, knocking down some big shots to finish with a game-high 20 points, then additionally pulled down five rebounds.
Also figuring into the mix for Pierce was Gavin Guynn, who despite being in foul trouble, finished with 17 points and six boards.
In the paint, Calvin Bair and Michael Acevedo did their part collecting nine and seven rebounds respectively, while Saul Garcia tossed in 10 points.
To get to the consolation championship, the Bears overcame a disastrous first game on Dec. 19, where they never really found a rhythm and thus fell 36-61 to Sutter.
Guynn scored a team-high 11 points with All-Tournament selection Devin Garcia dropping in nine and Bair finishing with eight.
Still, Pierce bounced back the following evening with an easy 47-26 win over Williams.
Garcia and Guynn each had 10 points, while Bair and Figueroa grabbed eight boards apiece.
As for the RedHawks, who suffered an opening round 57-67 loss to Clear Lake in spite of a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double from Cade Smith, they shut down Willows in the fourth quarter to earn the 58-48 victory in their second game.
Jace MacKaben led Colusa with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Smith doubled up again with 11 points and 11 boards.
Against the Bears in the final game of the tournament, MacKaben dropped in a team-high 18 points to earn an All-Tournament nod, with Smith adding 12 points and Lucas Price chipping in with 10 points.
Meanwhile, Williams, who also participated in the event, came up short 33-60 to tournament champion Gridley, lost to Pierce 26-47, but got back on track with a 45-33 win over Willows.
Emmanuel Juarez, the Yellowjackets’ All-Tournament pick, led the way against the Bulldogs with 12 points, then chipped in with five in the loss to the Bears.
In the battle with Willows, Diego Ambriz poured in 21 points and Miguel Murillo added 13.
Pierce (6-7) was the only team in action last week, playing in Bear River’s Bruin Holiday Challenge, which ran from Dec. 26-28.