Diego Delivers Dream Ending For Las Positas

A movie scriptwriter probably couldn’t have crafted it better. Tournament championship game. Two teams ranked in the state’s top 10.

Back-and-forth battle winds down to a dream shot by an unlikely hero. But such was the case Saturday night, when Las Positas players swarmed Diego Maldonado, a freshman guard from Colfax, after he banked in a 3-pointer to beat the buzzer and visiting Columbia, 78-77, in the Hawks’ season-opening Tony Costello Tip-Off Classic finale.

Maldonado’s first points of the game came on a magical shot near the left corner with Columbia players frantically leaping toward him. He received the ball on a well-executed inbounds play from the baseline.

A miss and it was probably a tough loss. He didn’t miss.

Boom! Las Positas, ranked No. 4 in the state, had beaten No. 8 Columbia, which won 25 games last season and has nine returners.

“At that point we only had 1.8 seconds,” recalled Las Positas head coach James Giacomazzi of Maldonaldo’s big shot. “Diego is a really good shooter, No. 1. No. 2, even though he didn’t play much in the game, it’s kind of what he does, and he stays ready.”

Not wanting overtime and down two points, the head coach turned to the highly dedicated backup with the quick release.

“I thought he’d be the best one to get it up in time," Giacomazzi said. "When I was still cleaning up the gym on Friday night, he was still in the gym shooting with Ted (Bigg-Wither, who had 25 points and nine rebounds in the championship game). Just getting extra shots and extra work. I saw that and then I thought about it too. This guy is still preparing for the moment, even though he wasn’t getting that much time, in particular. I felt like (Diego) was going to be ready. I said ‘Hey, you ready to end this?’ and he was up to the challenge.”

Bigg-Wither had a huge tournament, although he fouled out with about two minutes remaining Saturday night. The 6-10 sophomore center from Canberra, AUS, was also dominant in a hard-fought 74-60 win over tough Merced in Friday’s winner’s-bracket semifinals, with 28 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals. Sophomore Drew Vixon (Liberty HS-Brentwood) amassed 23 points, 12 rebounds, and two steals against Columbia, and freshman guard Bryant Clark (Valley Christian-San Jose) added 10 points and two boards.
The Hawks (3-0), who also beat Contra Costa 86-61 to open the tournament, will look to keep it rolling with two home games this week: against Napa Valley at 5 p.m on Thursday, and Lassen at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Giacomazzi called Columbia well-coached and veteran-led, and thought its experience would be an advantage against his mostly freshman squad.

“We can’t manufacture experience, so I was really happy we kind of weathered the storm,” Giacomazzi said. “In moments where they got the lead, we kept fighting back, clawing back possession-by-possession.”

At halftime he addressed his players after observing moments of frustration or negative emotions on the court after Columbia scored. He doesn’t want to see sagging shoulders or heads down.

“I’m gonna teach off the film that no matter what you do stay the course and play hard and do your job at all times and then play the 40 minutes,” he said.

The Hawks excelled as a young team overall. Freshman James Carraway (Vanden HS) guarded Columbia guard Dylon Hanna well in the first half, Bigg-Wither was steady as you go, and freshman guard Jacob Hudson (Minnetonka, MN) guarded well in the second half to help initiate the offense.

Freshman point guard Tey Carter (Sheldon) stepped up his game up over the previous two games, Giacomazzi said.

The coach thought Clark was effective driving to the basket, being aggressive, changing the game in the second half.

“All those guys did this things that made the game the way it was, but obviously, we’re gonna kind of go as Ted goes,” Giacomazzi said.

Of course, it all came down to a hero’s kiss off the glass.

“For Diego to come into that moment, cold but ready. He stepped up. He’s such a great kid. Great family, hard worker. He’s trying to get himself ready,” the coach said. “He’s working while he’s waiting right now … He’s not complaining, he’s working, and I respect that.”