Opponents set for Giants' basketball NorCal Regional doubleheader on March 1

By Nick Giannandrea

COS ATHLETICS

College of the Sequoias' Northern California Regional basketball playoff doubleheader is now set.

The Giants' top-seeded women will host No. 16 Cabrillo at 5:30 p.m. March 1, with the college's third-seeded men following at 7:30 p.m. against No. 14/13 Cosumnes River at Porter Field House.

Admission, as determined by the California Community College Athletic Association, is $12 general admission and $8

for all identified students, faculty, staff, senior citizens age 60

and older, and children less than 12 years of age.

Sequoias' women ride a season-long 28-game winning streak into the second-round NorCal Regional playoff game.

Cabrillo, which finished third in the Coast-South Conference, advanced by holding off No. 17 Modesto 62-60 on Feb. 26. The Seahawks are 19-10.

On the other side of the bracket, No. 8 Fresno City (19-9) faces No. 9 Butte (19-9) for a spot in the Regional finals. Fresno had a first-round bye, while Butte advanced with a 78-58 win over No. 24 Mission.

First-year Giants women's coach Tyler Newton led Butte to three straight state Elite Eight appearances, including the semifinals last season, before being hired at Sequoias.

The regional finals are set for March 8, with the Elite Eight scheduled for March 14-16 at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.

Sequoias' women have reached the Elite Eight 13 times in program history, most recently in 2023. The Giants' lone state championship came in 1987, when they went 35-0 under legendary coach Tom Gilcrest.

Sequoias' men are looking to reach the state's Elite Eight for the sixth straight season and 19th time in program history overall. The Giants have been to the Elite Eight in each of coach Dallas Jensen's four previous championship seasons.

The Giants will face a Cosumnes River team that opened the regionals with an 86-68 win over No. 19 Mendocino on Feb. 26. Cosumnes River, which finished third in the Big 8 Conference, is 19-10.

On the other side of the bracket, No. 6 Santa Rosa (22-6) hosts No. 11/12 Yuba (21-8), which opened the regionals with a 91-70 win over No. 22.23 Lassen.

The regional finals are March 8, with the Elite Eight scheduled for March 13 and 15-16 at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.

Sequoias' men are seeking the program's third state championship. The Giants won state titles in 1953 and 1982.