No. 15 Giants topple No. 13 Columbia in jumbled CVC men's basketball title chase

By Nick Giannandrea

COS ATHLETICS

The start of the second half of Central Valley Conference play couldn't have gone much better for College of the Sequoias men's basketball team.

First, the state No. 15-ranked Giants rode another monster performance from Jose Cuello to a 75-62 victory over No. 13 Columbia on Feb. 3 at Porter Field House. Cuello, a sophomore guard from Harlem, N.Y., finished with 33 points, 12 rebounds, four steals, three assists and a block. It was Cuello's third time topping 30 points in the past four games.

The Claim Jumpers, who beat visiting Sequoias 83-80 in overtime Jan. 10 during the first round, entered Saturday's game in a four-way tie for first place in the CVC along with No. 17 Merced, No. 21 West Hills-Lemoore and No. 30 Fresno City. The Giants were one game back after suffering an upset 64-63 loss to then last-place Reedley on Jan. 31.

"The boys realized their backs are against the wall right now," Sequoias coach Dallas Jensen said. "We've got 3 1/2 weeks left to become the best version of ourselves to close our conference and go into the postseason. Today was obviously a step in the right direction."

Second, the rest of the results around the conference played out favorably for Sequoias' quest of capturing the CVC title, with Fresno City beating Merced 100-86 and Porterville upsetting West Hills-Lemoore 73-61.

That leaves Fresno City (13-9, 6-2) alone atop the CVC with Sequoias (17-5, 5-3), Columbia (17-5, 5-3), Merced (17-5, 5-3) and West Hills-Lemoore (15-6, 5-3) all one game back with six to play. The Giants beat the Rams at home 79-62 on Jan. 27.

If Sequoias wins out, it would be CVC champion for the third straight season based on results on the floor and fifth in a row overall factoring in forfeits by Fresno City in 2019 and 2020. There were no CVC games in 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Our conference right now is so competitive, and the position we're in right now, I feel like we can only really focus on ourselves," Jensen said. "That's just where we're at after the first half of conference. Would it be nice to go 7-0 in the second half? Of course. Do I think that will happen? To be honest, I have no idea.  All I know right now is our sole focus has to be on us. We've got to come out and compete and play at a really high level and win every basketball game moving forward. Whatever else shakes out shakes out, but we just have to control ourselves and become the best version of the COS Giants."

Sequoias took control against Columbia early in the first half, using an 18-0 run capped by a Cuello 3-pointer at the 11-minute, 28-second mark to open a 19-point lead (25-6). Cuello scored eight points during the run.

The Giants' lead grew as big as 21 points (61-40) following a pair of free throws by Kion Hayes (Savannah, Ga.) with 9:37 left in the second half.

But Columbia responded with a 19-2 run to make it a four point game (63-59) with 4:58 remaining following a three-point play by Jarael Holston.

Sequoias outscored the Claim Jumpers 12-3 the rest of the way -- getting four points apiece from Cuello, Alex Argandar (Modesto) and Cameron Clark (Gwinnett, Ga.) -- to pull away.

"There was a 6 minute stretch in the second half where we got a little flat," Jensen said. "We weren't as physical. We weren't as engaged. We didn't talk as much. And as much as I don't want that to happen, it was nice to see our boys close it out during the last 3 minutes. It was almost like a reminder of how to close out and win tight games. Of course I would have loved to play a complete 40, but it was good to see our guys show some resiliency and close that out."

Argandar finished with 13 points, seven assists, a rebound and a steal, while Davis White (Santa Clarita) added 12 points and a rebound for the Giants.

Sequoias also received six points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal from Jaden Haire (Hanford West); two points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block from Jaylon Lee (Las Vegas); five points and four rebounds from Hayes; four points and two rebounds from Clark; and a rebound and a steal from Omari Nesbit (Sacramento).

"A lot of people would say this isn't where you want to be," Argandar said. "But this is exactly where we want to be. We started off terrible, we've had terrible games, but we're still in a position (to win the CVC title). We can do nothing but be grateful for it. All we have to do is keep executing."

The Giants get an opportunity to avenge one of their first-half conference losses when they host Merced at 5 p.m. Feb. 7. The Blue Devils won on their home court 69-67 on Jan. 13.

It will be the opener of a doubleheader with the women's team (14-8, 4-2), which faces Merced (6-16, 2-5) at 7 p.m.

Sequoias' final two home conference games are set for 5 p.m. Feb. 14 against Porterville (9-13, 3-5), and 3 p.m. Feb. 17 against West Hills-Coalinga (7-14, 1-7).