RedHawks score Biggs league win

The first Mid-Valley League game for the Colusa High boys basketball team was a resounding success, as the RedHawks started strong and finished strong in their 59-46 victory Friday against Biggs in Colusa.

Sophomore Destin Smith carried the RedHawks in the first half and junior R.J. Phillips took over in the second. The duo forced the Wolverines to pick their poison in the paint, dishing off to each other underneath the hoop as they combined for 34 points.

"We're basically the same players. We know each other and we know what we're going to do before we do it," Phillips said.

Phillips moved up to varsity in the middle of last season, and what he lacked in polish he made up for with his athleticism and aggressiveness.

This season, Phillips plays with much more control and patience, though his ability to get to the hoop remains intact. Smith plays with a similar reckless abandon as Phillips had last season and is steadily improving.

The Biggs zone defense struggled against the RedHawks offense, and Colusa coach Marty Remmers said Smith and Phillips were the reasons why.

"I think we moved the ball well on the inside with Destin and R.J. They did a great job of being unselfish and taking what the defense was giving them," Remmers said.

Smith scored nine of his 16 points in the first half and drew the full attention of the Wolverines defense. In the second half he took advantage of the zone, dishing off to Phillips along the baseline under the hoop.

Colusa built a 31-17 lead in the first half but Biggs closed the gap to 39-33 by the end of the third quarter, before Phillips scored 10 of his game-high 18 points in the fourth period.

"The big thing for both those guys is they're able to get to the basket any time they want. They're so strong, and they get off the floor so quickly," Remmers said.

Riley deWit, who sat out the team's first 14 games after transferring from Maxwell High, shot 3 of 4 from the free-throw line in the final minute to ensure Biggs went home with a loss.

The RedHawks already had plenty of depth at guard, but deWit brings a different dimension to the team.

"Toughness, leadership and he's very smart. He is very coachable, he is able to pick up on things very quickly," Remmers said.

DeWit finished the game with eight points, and guard Eric Barrera scored eight points, six of them coming in the fourth quarter.

Senior guard Luke Corriea scored the first points of the game with an early 3-pointer and the RedHawks never relinquished the lead. Six different RedHawks players scored in the first quarter.

"(Our guards) being able to be fast just gives us time to read them and see what they're doing, make our cuts and get each other open," Phillips said.

Biggs went on a 16-8 run from the end of the second quarter through the end of the third, but Colusa closed the game with a 10-4 run in the final two minutes.

Senior center Kevin Buenrostro scored four points and Hayden Bailey added two. Nathan Callaway led Biggs (8-8, 0-1 MVL) with 12 points, and Matt Chandler and Juan Castaneda added nine apiece.

The RedHawks (7-9, 1-0 MVL) played Quincy in Colusa on Tuesday and travel to Williams on Thursday.

CONTACT Kirk Barron at 458-21221 or kbarron@tcnpress.com.