After returning to the court and picking up a road win over Winters on Jan. 4, the RedHawk girls and boys basketball teams carried that momentum forward to sweep the visiting Biggs Wolverines in a non- conference doubleheader on Jan. 6.
In the early game, the RedHawk girls endured the frantic final seconds in which Biggs had two opportunities to win it, but were able to come away with a 38-37 victory in a seesaw battle.
Colusa (8-6, 1-0), finding itself down 37-35 with just over two minutes remaining, began its comeback with defense and a big rebound from junior Karsyn Gwinnup.
In the aftermath, freshman Danica Chavez calmly drained two free throws, while senior Holly Hickel added one, which proved to be enough to overcome some sloppy play with the clock winding down, and give the RedHawks the slim advantage necessary to edge the Wolverines.
Seniors Abby Myers and Reese Roper led Colusa with 11 points apiece, with Chavez chipping in with 10.
Roper additionally finished with nine rebounds, while Gwinnup cleared six boards and made five steals on the night.
In the varsity boys’ game, Colusa (7-6, 1-0) twice surged ahead to double-digit leads in the first half, but the scrappy Wolverines clawed their way back both times.
However, in the second half, the RedHawks ramped up the defensive pressure and knocked down critical shots from beyond the arc, to turn the tide in their favor and secure the 58-49 win.
Sophomore Landon Humphrey paced Colusa with 17 points, while senior Ethan Lay dropped 15, including some timely threes, despite being saddled with foul trouble.
Another sophomore in the starting lineup, Luke Kalfsbeek, finished with a double-double recording 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Senior Emanuel Frias grabbed 11 boards, while the RedHawk defense made 11 steals and yielded no three-point baskets to Biggs.
Colusa’s boys were back in action at home on Monday against Fall River, after which both teams hosted Winters on Wednesday and will end the week with a Homecoming game against county and Sacramento Valley League rival Pierce on Friday.■
