Entering the DVC Classic with a 3-5 record and two straight losses, expectations weren't exactly high for LPC.

But those expectations meant nothing as the Hawks knocked off ranked teams Thursday and Friday before winning the tournament championship Saturday with a 94-87 victory over Santa Monica in Pleasant Hill.

"I'm extremely proud of our guys," LPC coach James Giacomazzi said. "They worked their tails off...They bought in (to the system), and they're not making any excuses like a lack of height or whatever. We play as a team, and the kids are loving playing together."

LPC's Keith Hunter was named MVP of the tournament, while Cameron Moses and Kameron Johnson were named to the all-tournament team. Hunter led all scorers with 27 points against Santa Monica.

"Keith was aggressive and fearless," said Giacomazzi. "He had that look in his eye like we're gonna get this done."

Hunter scored 17 of his points in the first half, which ended with the Hawks leading 50-38. LPC (6-5) played most of the first half without Moses and Johnson, both of whom were in foul trouble.

However, LPC's bench came up huge. Darius Limbrick made 3 three-pointers and finished the half with 11 points. Aaron Berry scored 8 points in the half. Berry ended up with 23 points for the game.

"I can't say enough about the guys who came in...Aaron, Darius, Nilo (Yuson), and Ellis (Salahuddin)," Giacomazzi said. "They expanded on our lead when Cam and Kam got in foul trouble. I'm real excited about they way they played."

The Hawks led 75-67 with 7:43 remaining in the game before Santa Monica (7-2) made things interesting. The Corsairs scored 6 consecutive points to pull within 75-73. McKayle Harnell then scored inside while getting fouled, and he converted the three-point play to give LPC some breathing room with 5:25 left.

After a Santa Monica bucket, Johnson made two foul shots then stole the ball on the other end and fed Berry for a layup. Moses followed with a free throw to bump LPC's lead to 83-75 at 3:04.

After two Corsairs free throws, Berry helped seal the victory with a basket inside, followed by an assist to Brandon Eboigbodin, making the score 88-77. Santa Monica never got closer than within 6 points the rest of the game.

Eboigbodin finished with 12 points.

The game marked the first time LPC had played against a team from Southern California.

The Hawks are back in action Dec. 11 when they take on Gavilan at 2 p.m. in the first round of the Skyline Tournament in San Bruno.