File photo – Jett Cheong

The 2022/23 Corsairs are in a class of their own when it comes to basketball, and they’re not done yet.

In fact, when all is said and done, this team could be remembered as the most successful in program history.

They’re certainly playing like it and the accolades are piling up.

An 88-80 win at Butte on Saturday afternoon not only secured a third straight Golden Valley Conference title for the first time in program history, but it was the first time any of the conference teams has done so in 44 years.

The championship was achieved with a game to spare and fittingly was secured on their closest challengers’ home court.

It also lifted the high-flying Corsairs to 24-3 on the season, which tied the 1976/77 Redwoods team for the most wins in program history, a mark they will surely break in the coming weeks.

“I’m running out of things to say in explaining how proud I am of these guys,” said head coach Ryan Bisio, who has guided the team to a championship in each of his three seasons in charge. “You have to feel it to believe it. The character we showcased today inspired all who watched them, even the opponents’ fans.”

The CR men had already secured at least a share of this year’s title after their win at Siskiyous on Thursday night, and this should guarantee them a home playoff game.

This season, the team also rose to No. 12 in the state, the highest ranking ever for the program.

Saturday’s win also takes any pressure off the players as they return home to close out the regular season next Friday against Feather River in a game that will now be a celebration of an amazing season thus far.

Not that they were going to feel much pressure one way or the other.

File photo – Ryan Bisio has own a conference championship in all three of his seasons in charge at CR.

“We’ll give these guys a few days off, but knowing these guys they’ll be in the gym shooting anyway,” Bisio said. “They just want to be together, compete together. I hope the community comes to see these guys before they head out on the road once more.”

Remarkably, Bisio’s teams seem to be growing in strength each year and the team has gotten better after having to replace five legendary starters over the past two seasons, including all-state selection Thomas Nelson.

On Saturday, it was Jett Cheong who led the way on a roster that seems to have a different standout every night.

Cheong scored a team-best 31 points in an outstanding performance.

“Jett saved his signature performance for our biggest game,” the head coach said. “I can’t say I’m surprised though. He’s been a revelation this entire season for us and today was the exclamation point. He was jaw-droppingly good.”

Trey Neff also had a big game and finished with 26 points while the in-form Aidan Atkins-Salazar had 14 points and Kai Purcell 13.

The three-peat took place over four winters because there was no conference played in 2020/21 due to the pandemic.

It was the first three-peat in conference since Butte managed it between 1976-79. 

Friday’s game against Feather River, the only team to have beaten the Corsairs in conference play this season, is set for 5 p.m.

The CR women, meanwhile, also played at Butte on Saturday, falling 90-40.

The Roadrunners, who feature former Eureka Logger Bella Vigil as a team captain, are the No. 4 team in the state and sealed the conference championship outright with the win.

Kendall Stewart scored a team-high 14 points for CR, while teammate Kellie Schoenbachler added 10 points with one one of her best performances of the season.

“Our ladies played hard and battled the entire game,” head coach Jain Tuey said. “Kallie played extremely well.”

The CR women will close out the season at home to Feather River on Friday.