By Ray Hamill — The College of the Redwoods women’s basketball team will head to the Shasta Tournament this week hoping to build some momentum for a young squad.

It’s been an up-and-down campaign through the early going for the Corsairs, who are 2-3 and coming off a disappointing showing at the Sierra College Tournament two weeks ago.

That, however, is part of the growing process for a young group of players, with only three sophomores on a roster of 10.

“We had a couple of volleyball players (still playing), and one soccer player, and a couple of injuries, so we now have a full team back together for the first time,” CR head coach Jain Tuey said. “So we’re just trying to get everyone on the same page and up to pace.”

The Corsairs did have a solid showing at the Hawks Classic in the Bay Area three weeks ago, winning a pair of games, before a letdown a week later at Sierra, dropping back-to-back contests to Foothill and Butte.

The CR players started the Butte game slowly and trailed by 24 at halftime, before mounting an inspired comeback to pull within five points in the fourth quarter.

“They really fought back in the third quarter,” the head coach said. “They showed a lot of resilience and heart and they never gave up, and I hope it showed them what they can do.”

Sophomore Bobbie Purify has been leading the way for CR with 14.2 points and 6.6 rebounds a game, while freshman Bree Northern has wasted little time adjusting to the collegiate level after moving over from Arcata High, and is averaging 12.8 points and 6.2 rebounds a game.

Two other freshmen have also had an immediate impact.

Fortuna’s Darienne Kartes leads the team with 9.6 rebounds a game to go with 11.2 points, while St. Bernard’s Jayden Johnson is scoring 11.8 a game.

Setting the tone

Purify has been setting the tone for the younger players.

“She has the experience,” Tuey said. “She’s very athletic, she’s knows what it’s going to take to win, and so she brings the energy and intensity.”

Northern, according to the coach, “has really stepped up and got herself up to the pace of the (collegiate game).”

The CR women open this week’s tournament against Sierra (5-1) on Thursday, and will be hoping to remain all three days at the double-elimination tournament. 

The CR women will host their own tournament in mid December. 

Submitted photo – CR head coach Aaron Hungerford talks to his players during Tuesday’s game.

Redwoods men to host Tregs Classic

The CR men will look to get their first win of the season on their home court this weekend, as they get set to host the annual Coach Tregs Classic.

The two-day tournament tips off at College of the Redwoods on Friday, with South Western Oregon and Mendocino rounding out the field.

Redwoods, which is 0-8 through the early going, opens tourney play against South Western Oregon on Friday night at 7, and will play Mendocino at 3 p.m. the following day.

On Tuesday, the CR men dropped a close home opener to Simpson JV by a score of 71-69.

Reginald Cousart led the CR effort with 17 points, while Joseph Godla added 14 points.

Logan Thrap and Jose Macaraeg each finished with 11 points.