Giants men's basketball pulls away from Lemoore to maintain share of CVC lead

By Nick Giannandrea
COS ATHLETICS
There was cause for celebration and concern during a 19-point rout for the state No. 7-ranked College of the Sequoias men's basketball team.

The cause for celebration?

Sequoias won its sixth straight game – handily – to remain tied with Columbia for first place in the Central Valley Conference championship race following a 95-76 victory over Lemoore on Jan. 15 at Porter Field House.
The Giants (14-3, 3-0) and state No. 18 Claim Jumpers (13-4, 3-0) hold a one-game lead over Fresno City (8-9, 2-1) through three games of the 14-game CVC season. Sequoias – which plays at Fresno at 5 p.m. Jan. 18 – has won or shared the past five CVC championships.

"Obviously any conference win is a good win," Sequoias coach Dallas Jensen said. "But I just think that we were very up and down tonight."

The cause of concern?

he Giants allowed Lemoore to collect 20 offensive rebounds, giving the Golden Eagles (5-12, 1-2) the opportunity to score 16 second-chance points and slow down Sequoias' fast-paced offensive attack.
"I was really disappointed in how we rebounded on the defensive side," said Jensen, who has led Sequoias to state Elite Eight appearances in the past four championship seasons. "If we want any chance of competing at a state level, or let alone trying to win another conference championship, we've got to be a little bit tougher guarding it and rebounding it. I think offensively, we are really, really talented. But, you can't score until you get it."
Sequoias also had a tough time containing Lemoore's Trey Booker, who scored 29 points in the first half to keep the Golden Eagles within striking distance at 49-40.

The Giants continued to cling to a nine-point lead (62-53) when Ahmad Clark (Atlanta) drew Booker's fifth foul with 13 minutes and 9 seconds remaining in the game.

Sequoias outscored Lemoore 33-22 to pull away the rest of the way with Booker out of the game.

"I think we played hard enough," Jensen said. "We missed a couple times on Booker in the first half being in help position with him going right. I thought our energy was there on the ball and off the ball. The defense was OK. I think we've been making good strides on that end. (Lemoore) is very, very talented. I think the biggest thing is when you give up 20 offensive rebounds, you're bound to give up some second-chance points as well, and that hurt us tonight."

The Giants controlled other facets of the game, however, scoring 18 more points in the paint, 11 more points off turnovers, 10 more fastbreak points, and they enjoyed a 33-point edge in scoring off their bench.
Tyree Gill (Sacramento) led Sequoias with 22 points. He also had four rebounds and three steals.

"It was a hard fought win," said Gill, who made 8 of 15 shots, including 3 of 6 3-pointers. "You know, the team played together. Every day we come out we just try to execute what the coach says, and that's how we got the win."
Raydon Thorson (Queen Creek, Ariz.) had a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists to go along with four rebounds and a steal.

The Giants' starting five also saw Davis White (Santa Clarita) contribute nine points, four rebounds and two assists; Kevin Anderson (Atlanta) finish with six points, three steals, two rebounds and two assists; and Jaden Haire add four points, three rebounds and two steals.

Leyton McGovern (Anderson, Ind.) came off the bench to deliver 16 points, seven rebounds and a block.
Sequoias' bench also received 12 points, five rebounds and two blocks from Clark; 10 points, two rebounds, two steals, an assist and a block from Cameron Kelly (Decatur, Ga.); and six points, two steals and an assist from Jayson Mathews (Sacramento).

"We've just got to get closer and closer every single game to trying to play a complete 40 (minutes)," Jensen said. "This is a tough week playing Lemoore, which is extremely talented, and playing at Fresno, who I think is really, really good. We've just got to continue to maximize our reps in practice and be ready to play next time."

The Giants next home game is scheduled for 5 p.m. Jan. 25 against Porterville (5-12, 1-2).