RedHawks JV boys hoops team impresses

An 0-2 start is a distant memory for the Colusa High junior varsity boys basketball team, after it burned through its Mid-Valley League schedule without a loss.

The RedHawks claimed the league title and finished the season 21-4.

The team did well in preseason tournaments, winning the Maxwell tournament and placing second in the Georgia Razniak and Escalon tournaments. They beat Williams in a 49-48 thriller in the Maxwell championship game, beat Corning in the Razniak tournament and defeated Atwater, a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II team, in the Escalon tournament.

Christo Madrigal, Jorge Moreno, Shane Saso and Rigo Santana saw significant playing time last season when the team went 11-13. Colusa added Hunter Mobley, a transfer from Maxwell, and Matt Steidlmayer, a sophomore who did not play last year.

The addition of an impact freshman, Max Moreno, who came into the program with leadership and energy, often sparked big runs with steals and transition lay-ups, according to second-year coach Brendan Farrell.

Several other freshmen showed promise throughout the season; Carter Cunningham, a scoring point guard, Jared Huff, who had 9 points in the final game against Portola, and Garrett Hamilton, a solid forward who rebounded and defended well.

Farrell counted on leadership from Jorge Moreno, key scoring in clutch situations from Madrigal, solid defense and scoring from Saso and Steidlmayer, transition scoring and rebounding from Mobley, energy and scoring from Max Moreno, and anything and everything from their safety blanket, Santana.

Farrell credited assistants Jim Pingrey and Hayden Keeley for helping coach the team, and said a great group of parents provided much needed support.

"Varsity will be gaining some key players, and we will be returning a good group of freshmen for next season," Farrell said.