Redwoods advance in state title hunt
24-6 game-ending run powers Redwoods to CCCAA NorCal Regional win
Thomas Nelson scored 27 points, the Corsairs held the Panthers to six points over the final 9:30 of play to run away with the club’s 10th double-digit win of the season, and the No. 8 College of the Redwoods men’s basketball team silenced visiting No. 9 Sacramento City College 75-56 amidst a sold out crowd loud enough to shatter a pair of eardrums, Friday night in the second-round of the CCCAA NorCal Regional state championships at CR.
With nine minutes remaining in regulation Bradley Willis worked his into the lane for a layup and a 53-50 lead.
The basket marked the start of a 24-6 Redwoods run which spanned the remainder of regulation
and turned what was a neck-and-neck ball game into a yet another blowout win for Redwoods. A couple possessions later Willis followed up the bucket with a steal and a coast-to-coast drive for a layup. On the other end of the floor the freshman out of Fortuna High drew a charge, the third forced by the freshman in the game and the fourth on Sacramento in the second half alone. The two minute span by Willis showcased the freshman’s all-around ability and keyed a monstrous gameending run by the Corsairs.
“In the second half Bradley completely changed the game,” Redwoods head coach Ryan Bisio said. “We told him at halftime to put his body on the line and he responded. I’m so proud of him and I hope people leave that gaming knowing he’s the one who really tilted things in our favor tonight.”
With 5:30 to play Nelson buried a 3-pointer, giving Redwoods its first doubledigit lead of the night at 61-50.
Nelson started the night with a quick turnaround jumper from less than seven feet and followed it up with a ally-oop dunk from Zac Claus, who had eight assists in the first half. During a few brief droughts Nelson struggled to shoot the ball, but by large the sophomore who spent his high school career at Arcata High being coached by Bisio was as on as ever, leading Redwoods with first-team allstate and Golden Valley Conference MVP level scoring ability.
“Tom had his struggles early but he worked through them,” Bisio said. “He’s the most coachable guy you can imagine.”
Isaac Puzz, a freshman out of McKinleyville High, scored
13 points including three 3-pointers off the bench in the win. With 2:50 to play Puzz dropped in a tricky mid-range bucket to extend the ‘Woods run to 16-3 and put the home team up 67-53.
“I thought Puzz got going against their 2-3 zone and I think he gave them pause about running it,” Bisio said. “And I thought his defense was as good as ever tonight.”
Drew Gillette scored 19 points in the win. His highlight moment of the night came trailing 40-39 with 15:14 to play in the second half. The freshman out of Fortuna Highb got a 3-pointer to fall while being fouled and converted
the rare 4-point play to give Redwoods the lead back at 43-40.
The back-breaking bucket counted as the final lead change of the night.
“I believe we produce very good basketball players on the North Coast,” Bisio said. “I think tonight was an example of how special our guys are, and the rest of the state is going to start to take notice.”
Up next
Redwoods will face the winner of No. 1 City College of San Francisco (280) against No. 16 San Joaquin Delta (19-10), which will be played on Saturday, on March 7.