LAS POSITAS BESTS LOCAL RIVAL DVC

The Las Positas and Diablo Valley men's basketball teams met in a local showcase Friday night, and the host Hawks had too much firepower in an 87-71 win in the second round of the CCCAA Northern California Regional playoffs.
Clearly, the Hawks (22-7) feel like they're peaking at a great time.
"Oh yes, definitely," standout sophomore guard Caleb Baskett said. "That was a good effort out there tonight. Practice has been going well lately and we think we're jelling on both sides of the court."
The Hawks (22-7), seeded seventh, used the sensational 3-point shooting of substitute Nick Evans in the first half to draw out the DVC defense after the Vikings took an early 15-12 lead.
One deep Evans' 3 seemed to come from Oakley, giving the Hawks a 24-18 lead.
"I think he (coach James Giacomazzi) put me in at just the right time," said Evans, who had 15 points on five 3s. "I was really feeling it in warmups."
Las Positas will face either No. 2 Feather River or No. 15 Sierra on March 4 in the third round, needing one win to advance to the eight-team state finals, hosted by Las Positas.
Playing at home in the Elite Eight would be special for the Hawks' talented sophomore cast. They seem driven to make that happen.
"Oh, very driven," said Stokley Chaffee Jr., who ranks seventh in the state averaging 10.1 rebounds a game. "Home court … Home court advantage … Championship … Put a banner up for the first time … It's exciting. I think we're on the right track. I'm ready. We're ready. Everybody's ready."
Kameron Johnson led the balanced Hawks with 18 points against well-coached DVC. The skillful Baskett had 17 points, center Donald Mims had 13, and Keith Hunter 12.
A lock-down defense, with the 7-foot-0 Mims patrolling the paint, was a huge component of the victory.
"Defense wins championships," Baskett said.
"I think the main thing we had to do was defense, that was key to winning the game," Evans said.
If it winds up being Feather River in the next round, the Hawks appear unfazed. They've beaten the likes of CCSF in the bruising Coast Conference-North.
"We know they're good, but we're not scared of anybody," Chaffee said. "We're ready for everybody."
The No. 10 seeded Vikings (20-10), who returned to the playoffs this season under legendary coach Steve Coccimiglio, were paced by Brazilian sharpshooter Victor Mijas' 25 points and sophomore floor leader Rodney Pope's 21 points.
LET FREEDOM RING: The freshman Evans had an intriguing matchup against a familiar face. Pope and Evans were among the stars on the powerful Freedom squad, which finished No. 2 in the 2014 CIF Northern California Division I basketball playoffs.
Friday's game attracted Freedom coach Drew Torres and some other Falcons players and fans. The Freedom contingent wasn't disappointed as Evans and Pope, a former Bay Valley Athletic League MVP, produced 36 points overall and dazzled at times.
"I thought it was interesting. I had never gone up against him before," Evans said of facing Pope. "I've always played with him ever since AAU and high school, so I thought that was fun … He definitely had a great performance tonight."
Evans also enjoyed seeing some old high school teammates in the crowd, along with a couple of "my youngsters."
Pope was impressed with the Hawks, who are packed with players heading to the four-year level.
"It was just hard going against all of them," Pope said. "I think I got good shots and good looks and I played a good game, but it just wasn't good enough."
Pope said he plans to transfer to a Division I or Division II program, after having a very positive experience under Coccimiglio, who will be inducted into the CCCMBA State Hall of Fame on March 11 at the Crowne Plaza.
COACHES CORNER: Dougherty Valley coach Mike Hansen was also in the crowd Friday night, checking up on former Wildcats player Jushan Samra, the Hawks' 6-4 freshman forward. Hansen seemed highly impressed with the Hawks' play.
COAST-NORTH POWER: How tough is the Coast-North Conference? A quick look at Friday night's playoff scores tells the tale: No. 7 Las Positas 87, No. 10 DVC 71; No. 5 Canada-Redwood City 73, No. 12 San Joaquin Delta 52; No. 11 Ohlone 69, No. 6 Santa Rosa 61.
Four of the Hawks' five conference losses this season came against Ohlone and Canada, and the other was to No. 1 seed and reigning state champion CCSF.
-- Matt Schwab