Redwoods highly ranked in poll
The College of the Redwoods men’s basketball team is the 18th best team in the state, according to the Dec. 23 California Community College Men’s Basketball Association poll.
“(The poll) affirms what we believe about ourselves,” Redwoods head coach Ryan Bisio said. “But being highly ranked is not a goal we have on our list. Winning a conference title is on our list.”
Redwoods, previously unranked in the 30-team coaches poll, shot into the top 20 after defeating Santa Rosa (9-4) in the championship round of its home tournament on Dec. 14 to capture the program’s first-ever Kris Kringle title. Former McKinleyville Panther Isaac Puzz earned tournament MVP honors, in part due to his dozen made 3-pointers across the tournament’s semifinal and championship rounds.
Redwoods (13-3) is ranked two spots back of Golden Valley Conference foe No. 16 Butte (10-5). They are the lone GVC clubs to be ranked in the coaches poll and will face off on the opening day of conference play, Jan. 11 at Redwoods.
“It’s a going to be a high profile game to begin conference,” Bisio said. “It’s a big game for a lot of reasons…Most of all, it’s an opportunity to go out and continue to improve.”
Thomas Nelson, who leads Redwoods in scoring with a nightly average just under 20 points (19.8), is sixth in the state in total scoring. Drew Gillette, one of four former Fortuna Huskies who is in the starting rotation for Redwoods, is tied for fifth in the state in 3-pointers made (46) and is shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc. As a team Redwoods is second in the state in both 3-pointers made per game (11.1) and 3-pointers attempted per game (30.5).
Defensively Redwoods gives up a mid-lining 73.4 PPG, good enough for 44th in the state. Where the ‘Woods excel is winning the 3-point battle. Redwoods is third in the state in opponent
3-point percentage (27.5) and 27th in opponent fieldgoal percentage (41.6).
To date no team has played more games than Redwoods (16). For a program under the direction of the first-year head coach featuring a freshman-heavy starting rotation, Redwoods’ 16-game gauntlet to open the season has been a blessing in disguise.
“Our thought coming into the season was to play as many games as possible
— a baptism by fire for sure,” Bisio said.
Redwoods’ 13 wins this season are more than the program’s total wins over the three previous seasons (12).
Women’s basketball
The Redwood’s women’s team landed at No. 14 in the northern region the Dec. 23 coaches poll, one spot back of its previous ranking.
Redwoods (11-3) has won 9 of its last 10 games, doing so by double digits on seven occasions.
Former Arcata Tigers Ashley Quigley and Breesia Northern have done
much of the offensive damage for Redwoods. Quigley’s 17.1 points-per-game (PPG) lead the club while Northern’s 10.3 points a night make her one of four Corsairs averaging double-digits scoring wise.
Denise Horton currently leads the team in rebounding with 7.4 boards an outing while scoring 10.6 PPG. Darienne Kartes is enjoying a healthy sophomore season, averaging 11.4 PPG.
Redwoods will wrap up non-conference play on Jan. 4 on the road at Las Positas before beginning conference play at home on Jan. 11 against Butte.