State No. 7 Giants men's basketball turns up defensive pressure in rout of Cerritos

By Nick Giannandrea

COS ATHLETICS

After losing two of three games over the past two weeks, College of the Sequoias men's basketball team looked a lot more like one of the state's elite on Dec. 19 at Porter Field House.

Fueled by an intensified defensive effort, the Giants forced four turnovers in the game's first 5 minutes while racing out to a double-digit lead, and they never looked back en route to an 82-53 nonconference victory over Cerritos.

Sequoias (10-3) slipped from a No. 4 preseason ranking to No. 7 in the latest state poll released by the California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches Association after a 78-56 loss at No. 1 San Francisco on Dec. 6. The Giants followed that with a 79-72 loss at No. 12 Feather River on Dec. 13. It was the same Feather River team, led by Sequoias' coach Dallas Jensen's brother Derek, that the Giants routed 81-56 at home in their season opener Nov. 1. 

"It was a step in the right direction for us," Jensen said of Sequoias' 29-point homecourt victory over a Cerritos team that entered 7-4 and was listed on the fringe of the state Top 30. "I think we've been in a little bit of funk the last seven to 10 days, and I think we've been playing defense (that's) just not what COS basketball defense should be. So our whole emphasis this week was on playing great defense, and being a little more physical and connected. And I thought it translated tonight."

With Jensen imploring his team to defend with more intensity, and subbing quickly for anyone who failed to do so, the Giants forced nine turnovers and limited the Falcons to 1 of 8 shooting from 3-point range (12.5 percent) in the first half while rolling out to a 47-27 lead.

Sequoias allowed a slightly higher shooting percentage (41.4 percent to 34.5 percent), but forced more turnovers (12) and allowed fewer points (26) in the second half while winning its second straight game.

"With this group right now, what we're realizing is we're still learning how to pay attention to detail," Jensen said. "And we talked a lot this week about how our team will compete, but they hit a mental and physical wall sometimes. And we haven't showcased the ability to consistently overcome that. So I was pretty intense in practice this week and I knew I was going to try and provide a little more energy on the sidelines tonight as well, because I want these boys to be able to learn how to break through that barrier and really compete and play good basketball for an entire 40 minutes."

Sequoias surged ahead by double digits (17-6) on a 3-pointer by Davis White (Santa Clarita) off an assist from Raydon Thorson (Queen Creek, Ariz.) at the 14:35 mark.

A 13-0 run midway throught the first half – capped by a free throw from Leyton McGovern (Anderson, Ind.) with 4:17 remaining – allowed the Giants to extend their lead beyond 20 points at 39-16.

Sequoias' lead reached its pinnacle (80-46) with 5:20 left in the game following a dunk by Ahmad Clark (Atlanta, Ga.) off an assist from Kevin Anderson (Atlanta, Ga.).

McGovern led the Giants with 29 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Tyree Gill (Sacramento) delivered 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals for Sequoias, while White added 16 points, five rebounds and three assists. 

The starting five also saw Jaden Haire (Hanford West) contribute eight points, five rebounds, two steals and an assist, while Thorson had four assists, three rebounds and a steal.

Off the bench, the Giants received three points, four assists, three steals, and a rebound from Jayson Mathews (Sacramento); two points, three rebounds and a steal from Clark; two points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal from Anderson; and two points and a rebound from Cameron Kelly.

"I do think we can be really, really good," Jensen said. "But we're also at a point this season where we've got to be able to be more consistent, and we can't have any more like ebbs and flows."

Sequoias final nonconferene game is set for 3 p.m. Jan. 4 at Gavilan (3-10), where Jensen previously coached. 

The Giants open defense of their Central Valley Conference title at 6 p.m. Jan. 8 at Coalinga (1-13). Their next home game comes in conference play at 5 p.m. Jan. 11 against Reedley (4-9).

"I think there's probably a target on our back just because we've been pretty successful in conference play," Jensen said. "But I think our whole focus right now is on us. Like how do we become the best version of ourselves? And that's where our time and efforts are going to. We'll worry about everybody else at another time. Right now our focus is on ourselves."