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CR Men's Basketball Opens Season with Impressive Win


Published on 11/1/2019.

Article by Andrew Butler: Times Standard

For the first time in a long time, College of the Redwoods men's basketball — winless a season ago — has something to celebrate.

Thomas Nelson scored 29 points, Drew Gillette added 21 more and Redwoods overcame a 50-42 halftime deficit to win its season opener at San Jose City College 89-82, Thursday afternoon on day one of the SJCC San Jose Tipoff tournament.

Redwoods entered Thursday riding a 29-game losing streak dating back to early February in 2018.

They are 1-0 under the direction of first-year head coach Ryan Bisio.

“We are all very proud to be together and doing this today,” Bisio said. “Everyone knows we kind of have lifted a monkey off our back...What a big win for this program.”

Bisio brought with him a host of Humboldt County talent.

It paid dividends immediately.

The Fortuna Four, Drew Gillette, Zac Claus and twin brothers Donald and Bradely Willis — all freshman who took Fortuna High to never before seen heights a season ago — combined to score 60 points.

Gillette led them with 21.

“It was a special win for everyone,” Gillette said. “The locker room environment was great after the game.”

Claus helped seal the win with a basket and a foul shot with under two minutes to play.

He scored 18 points.

“We got our jitters out in the first-half,” Claus said. “I felt like we were in our element.”

Donald Willis also finished with 18 points while Bradley had 3 and, according to Bisio, three or four charges taken on defense.

Nelson, who played under Bisio during his years at Arcata High, started the game along with the Fortuna Four.

His 29 points were exemplified by back-to-back dunks midway through the second-half which “were a turning point” in the game, Bisio said.

E.J. Jackson, one of the few returners from a season ago, played a few valuable minutes during which Bisio said the sophomore played “very mature” basketball.

AJ Stubbs, a freshman from McKinleyville High, got his first minutes of the season in the second half. Bisio said his tallest player (Stubbs measures at 6-foot-7) helped sure up his defense and manufacture a few rebounds.

Redwoods (1-0) returns to action tomorrow on day two of the tournament when it takes on Foothill at 3 p.m.

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