No. 6 Giants expand CVC men's basketball lead following 15th straight win

By Nick Giannandrea

COS ATHLETICS

College of the Sequoias bolstered its lead in the Central Valley Conference men's basketball championship chase.

The California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches' Association state No. 6-ranked Giants rolled past host Merced 85-67 on Feb. 1 for their 15th consecutive victory, the second-longest active streak in the state behind the 16 straight won by top-ranked Fullerton and No. 5 Yuba.

Sequoias (20-3, 9-0) now leads second-place Fresno City (16-5, 6-3) and Columbia (18-5, 6-3) by three games with five to play in pursuit of a fifth consecutive CVC championship. The Giants won titles on the court in 2022 and 2021, and were awarded titles because of Fresno City forfeits in 2020 and 2019.

Another stellar first half was the catalyst to Sequoias' ninth straight win by a double-digit margin.

Sequoias, which held state No. 15 Columbia to 16 first-half points in its last game, limited Merced (6-17, 3-6) to 39.3 percent shooting (11 of 28) in the first half, including an 0-for-4 effort from beyond the 3-point arc.

The Giants, meanwhile, were shooting 57.1 percent overall (16 of 28) and 44.4 percent on 3-pointers (4 of 9) while opening a 43-27 lead.

Terri Miller (Clovis North High) scored 14 points on 5 of 7 shooting and Tyjean Burrrell added 11 points on 4 of 5 shooting to pace the first-half charge.

It was a back-and-forth affair early on, with eight lead changes and four ties in the first half.

Merced led 14-13 with 11 minutes and 50 seconds to play in the first half before Sequoias surged into the lead with a 13-2 run that featured eight points from Burrell.

The Giants would not trail again with their lead swelling as big as 21 points (43-22) in the first half following a three-point play by Tre'von Martin (Las Vegas) at the 1:53 mark.

Sequoias' lead got as big as 26 points three times in the second half, achieved the last time (83-57) on a Miller basket off an assist from Martin with 4:33 left in the game.

Burrell led the Giants with 24 points, six assists, four rebounds and a steal.

Miller delivered 21 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block, and Tyree Gill (Sacramento) added 20 points, two rebounds and an assist for Sequoias.

Also contributing for the Giants were Jose Cuello (Harlem, N.Y.) with five points, four rebounds and a steal; Cameron Clark (Snellville, Ga.) with five points, six rebounds and a block; Martin with three points, four rebounds and two assists; Alex Argandar (Modesto) with three points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals; Omari Nesbit (Sacramento) with two points and two rebounds; Takari Fields (Champaign, Ill.) with two points and two rebounds; George Carter (Stockton) with four rebounds and Samuel Bazunga (Paris, France) with a rebound and a block.

Sequoias can clinch no worse than a tie for the CVC championship with wins in its next two games: at home against West Hills-Lemoore (10-12, 3-5) at 5 p.m. Feb. 4, and at Porterville (11-12, 5-4) at 7 p.m. Feb. 8.

The Giants host state No. 17 Fresno City at 7 p.m. Feb. 15 and play their final regular season home game against Reedley (9-13, 3-5) at 7 p.m. Feb. 17. Admission to Porter Field House is $8 general and $5 for seniors and students.

Sequoias is out to extend a streak of state Final Eight appearances in three straight championship seasons. The Giants have won two state titles in school history, coming in 1953 and 1982.